Guest Contributor Christine Stavropoulos (The Greek Podyssey)<\/em><\/p>\n The concert opened with \u03a4\u03bf \u0396\u03b5\u03ca\u03bc\u03c0\u03ad\u03ba\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u0394\u03af\u03b1<\/em> (The Zeibekiko of Zeus). Xarhakos composed and conducted the piece for the Opening Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. More than two decades later, the work returned to Athens. Nikos Touliatos\u2019 percussion ensemble Ichodrasi (\u0397\u03c7\u03cc\u03b4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7) accompanied the performance. Additionally, that group took part in the original Olympic presentation.<\/p>\n The 2004 ceremony remains a fixed reference in Greek public memory. The opening choice tied the hill concert to a national event. Official ticket notes also listed Ichodrasi as a featured guest for 5 September. Consequently, the Olympic link sat at the front of the night, not as an encore.<\/p>\n Giannis Kotsiras and Iro Saia joined Xarhakos as principal singers. Saia is the composer\u2019s wife. Both voices carried the la\u00efko repertoire that defined the bill. Pianist Neoklis Neofytidis served as orchestral supervisor and vocalist. The release names him a central collaborator in staging the works.<\/p>\nStavros Xarhakos presented the Xarhakos Lycabettus concert at the Municipal Theatre of Lycabettus on 5 September 2026. The evening was titled \u201c\u03a4\u03b1\u03be\u03af\u03b4\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03a6\u03c9\u03c2\u201d Journey into the Light. It marked more than six decades of work by the Greek composer, as he conducted the program himself above the city.<\/h2>\n
Olympic work opens the Lycabettus program<\/h3>\n
![\"City](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Stavros-Xarhakos-Lycabettus-2-768x1024.webp)
<\/source><\/picture>Singers and ensemble at the Xarhakos Lycabettus concert<\/h3>\n