Weekly supplement by Insider Publications • insider-publications.com • facebook.com/insiderpublications • No 85 • Friday, November 27, 2015 EXHIBITION CHRISTMAS FACTORY 2015
MUSIC THE EDITORS
Athens’ biggest and most magical Christmas theme park returns today for the third year at the Gazi Technolopolis, Kerameikos, spreading festive joy to young and old, and featuring games, toy workshops, creative performances and a Christmas bazaar, Peiraios 100, thechristmasfactory.gr
After their triumph at EJEKT Festival 2014, English rock act The Editors returns to Athens, Friday December 4, 9pm, at Gazi Music Hall, Iera Odos 7, Kerameikos to promote their new album and revisit their biggest hits. Tickets from €28, viva.gr
have to be patient, optimistic and passionate. ‘From the 216 different clones we have found for the Assyritico, for example, we are only going to give the market seven. ’
VINICULTURE
UPCOMING EVENTS
Amanda Dardanis meets Konstantinos tions for his bold venture than Homer’s Bakasietas, the man bringing extinct “Vineyard of the Gods”. Nemea boasts Greek wine varieties back from the Dead. 2,500 years of viniculture history and is famous for its trademark Agiorgitiko variety, wine. Certainly, we gave the world the epicu- a red and hearty breed cultivated since anrean concept of “symposium” – a convivial tiquity. It’s also the place where Heracles wine-fueled meeting of minds, as practised by Plato and his merry men back in the day. ing the Nemean Lion. The contemporary In Greek Mythology, it was Zeus’ son Dio- Labors of Kostas Baskietas would appear nysus who bestowed the gift of wine by no less heroic. introducing the grapevine, and imparting to mortals the secrets of its cultivation and fermentation. But somewhere along the way, things got a little lost. To say the least. Civil wars and world wars. Great famines and lengthy occupations. Phyloxerra outbreaks and economic catastrophe … They all contributed to an extended era where, when it came to Hellenic wines, Greeks became the champions of anti-marketing, Part wine archeologist, part vine healer, restricting much of their export activity to Bakasietas’ ambitious mission is threefold. Since 2004, he has worked tirelessly diaspora communities abroad. But every crisis, a silver lining. As domestic wine consumption collapsed, Greek wine Greek varieties – such as the white Assyritico made from ancient vines on Santorini of economic misery, a generation of mod- - in order to impose a more Gallic-style ernist wine producers has sprung forth. discipline previously lacking in the local Viniculturalists determined to change the industry. perception of Greek wines on the world stage (and dethrone the Chardonnay-and- you can’t import. It’s how the French got Cabernet-only mindset while they’re at it). ahead,’ says Bakasietas. ‘Now, we will Enter global-minded visionaries like Kon- open the doors for our Greek varieties to stantinos Bakasietas – an agronomist on a travel all over the world.’ one-man crusade to resurrect endangered and extinct ancient wines across Greece, second, also painfully time-consuming goal: sifting and analyzing the varieties for clones and take them to market. Bakasietas, 35, trained in the wine-making to yield better, more consistent results. arts in Montpelier, and is founder of the ‘It’s a lot of work. You have to mark absoinnovative Bakasietas Vine Nursery and lutely everything for when you come back later. The Greek inclination is to leave it up of its kind in Greece. to “the next guy”,’ Bakasietas tells Insider. There could be few more symbolic loca- ‘But I decided to work the French way. You
available in 2016, according to Bakasietas, with countries as diverse as Brazil, America, Spain and Australia then starting to produce and label this Greek variety locally. But it is the vine nursery’s third goal that has lay wine enthusiasts like myself, the most excited. The revival of Greece’s most endangered or extinct wines. In some cases, it’s a matter of rescuing and cleaning compromised vines from environmental factors that have negatively impacted on colour intensity and aromas, as they’ve the red Agiogitiko in Nemea, the wine is unbelievable. It’s vastly improved; much better colour and potential,’ enthuses Bakasietas. ‘With the blind tasting trials we have already done, there has been a real wow factor; people have been very impressed and excited.’ But in other instances, it’s literally bringing back wines from beyond the grave. Like the Asprouda of Santorini that Konstantinos was locating just three dormant vines, back in 2005. ‘It was a big moment,’ he grins. ‘There was no wine in the market for this variety. But we found it. We rescued it.’ The Santorini Asprouda joins other resuscitated Greek varieties including the aromatic Malagousia, Crete’s Vilana, Lagorthi, the elegant dry white of Achaia, and the earthy vivid Limniona from Thessaly, in central Greece. ‘I’m sure we have lost a lot of varieties that we will discover again, little by little,’ Bakasietas predicts. But beyond the commercial value of being able to debut excitingly rare varieties to the world, there’s also a more poetic reward: The undeniable romance of reconnecting the broken thread that connects the wines drunk in the times of Alexander the Great and at Plato’s classic symposia, with the wines of today. have to start somewhere. Now, we are all striving to educate the people outside of Greece about the wines we are creating in these amazing landscapes.’ To book a private tasting tour at VNB - VINE NURSERY BAKASIETA, Tel: 274.606.1245
FESTIVAL ORIENTAL PASSION FESTIVAL
A four-day celebration of dance and music from the Middle East and India, at Athinais Cultural Centre, November 26-29, featuring modern and traditional dance, tribal fusion and Bollywood, dance competitions, and an appearance from Egyptian diva Dina. Kastorias 34-36, orientalpassionfestivalgreece.com
EXHIBITION DIGITAL REVOLUTION
From Pac-Man and Super Mario to Gravity and Inception; from the Industrial Revolution to 3D printing, the Onassis Cultural Centre’s futuristic Digital Revolution exhibition family, sgt.gr
a place of mystery, emotion, reverence and TV THIS WEEK awe,” says Tassos Vrettos, whose previous exhibition for Benaki, “City and Cinema”, memorialized the movie houses of Athens. “Each space had its own unique identity and aura, from the bright colorful icons of an Indian temple to the barren space of a basement Senegalese mosque, adorned with nothing but a wall clock.” In direct contrast to conventional reportage, MISTRESSES 3 Vrettos has not stopped at the moment of A visit to the doctor leaves Karen stunned; Blair and the foreign migrants’ and refugees’ arrival April’s relationship moves forward; Harry helps Marc battle his demons; Joss desperately needs evidence and survival – or their “forwarding” to their against An eloquent new photography exhibit at Calista. Mondays at 21.00 on Foxlife. Benaki Museum underscores our vital and radically to delve into the invisible primordial deeply human need to worship. experience that brings together people from What do we photograph when we photodiverse origins and backgrounds when they graph prayer? Is it a thought, a feeling? are forced to turn what little and precarious Some form of desire? Or are we capturing convention and community? ways: into states of worship. For the thousands of displaced migrants and have found temporary Don’trefugees pick up who a copy of Richard Pine’s new whimsically titled book, Greece Through THE MUPPETS home in Athens, thea lilting question becomes Irish Eyes, expecting paean to his adopted home. The Muppets return to prime-time with a contempoeven more potent. An evocative new photographic exhibition a series will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and titled “Wor(th)ship”, by Athenian photograrelationships, as well as romances, disappointments, pher Tassos Vrettos, which debuted at the wants and desires. Tuesdays at 21.25 on Foxlife. Benaki Museum Pireos St Annexe last week Watch FOX on OTE TV (November 20), takes us beyond the onedimensional imagery of Victoria Square to CINEMA THIS WEEK record an “invisible network” in and around Athens: the makeshift places of worship for migrants and refugees. - Here is a cross-section of the planet concentrated on the map of a single city. Athens. apartment blocks and garages, playing It is a resounding retort to the narratives of “city ruin” which have haunted the urban and courtyards, structures made in tempo- imaginary from 2008 onwards, believes Unirary or permanent addresses for groups of versity of Thessaly’s Associate Professor of HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART II Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Spiritualists Contemporary History, Ioanna Laliotou. As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of and Christians of various denominations More than a mere documentation of mar- other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reand multiple ethnic origins (Ethiopian, Af- ginal worship practices, the featured photo- luctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an against President Snow, while all she holds dear ghan, Egyptian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Sen- graphs also work to solicit from the viewer army hangs in the balance. egalese, etc.). It is an eloquent ‘work in a reprisal of their own spirit of pure, devoprogress’ that began in 2012 with the col- tional attention, anticipates Princeton Unilaboration of the communities’ members versity’s Dr Graham Burnett in the companthemselves and with the utmost respect for ion publication. their identities. Brian Dillon, curator and critic at the Royal “Wor(th)ship”, accompanied by a bilingual College of Art, London, adds that the emo384-page publication, presents a total of tive images signal “a time of waiting and 44 such places of worship in Greater Ath- the space in which something, some feeling ens – and subsequently underscores the perhaps of having arrived, of having found a BRIDGE OF SPIES vital and deeply human need for worship. During the Cold War, an American lawyer (Tom Hanks) “Each of my visits, even when it wasn’t the Wor(th)ship will be on view at Benaki, 138 is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy, then help CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the SovietPireos St, www.benaki.gr, until January 10, the captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary again, was like opening a door and entering 2016. Admission €5. Powers. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Worship from Afar
EXHIBITION
THEATRE JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE Embark on Argo in a breathtaking journey with Jason and the Argonauts as they attempt to bring home the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology’s most legendary epic journey, told in a lavish family production, directed by renowned choreographer Badminton Theater. Zografou, www.abcd.gr
EXHIBITION
MUSICAL
PICASSO AND COCTEAU A dynamic exhibition celebrating the creative -often subversive- bond between Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau: their 50-year friend-
BILLY ELLIOT Blockbuster musical Billy Elliot, featuring the music of Elton John, staged at the Pallas Theatre, tells the tale of an 11-year-old boy who seeks to make his ballet dancing dreams a reality while the world around him collapses, Voukourestiou 5, a-th.gr
that played a vital role in the Modernism Movement. B&M Theocharakis Foundation, 1, thf.gr
CELEBRATION
Insider’s Top 5 suggestions for celebrating Thanksgiving 2015 in Athens:
A Heroine for Modern Times Those who like their Victorian heroines of a slightly grittier persuasion than Emma Woodhouse are in for a rare treat. Charlotte Brontë’s classic masterpiece Jane Eyre is coming to Athens shortly, for just one night.
In a collaboration with the British Embassy and the British Council in Athens, Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane Eyre will be broadcast live from the Lyttelton Theatre in London, to the Megaron’s Alexandra Trianti Hall on December 8, at 9pm. Director Sally Cookson has adapted her highly-praised production of Jane Eyre, which was staged last year at the Bristol Old Vic unconventionally over two evenings, into a single 210-minute drama. Almost 170 years on, Jane Eyre is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production, with West End star Madeleine Worrall, 38, in the title role (seen recently on screen in Paddington), follows one
Cookson’s two-part production earned tol. So what can audiences expect from her new streamlined adaption? British critics have described a vivid and passionate production full of intelligent and original detail such as the use of multiple voices to convey Jane’s agonised inner monologues; an expressive sung performance by Melanie Marshall as Rochester’s mad wife Bertha; a scenestealing performance by Craig Edwards as the sanctimonious Mr Brocklehurst, principal of Lowood School - and Michael Vale’s striking set of ladders and platforms. Unlike many movie adaptions, Cookson also delves into Jane’s entire psychological journey to deliver a more fully-realised tale, rather than merely focusing on the love struggle between her and Rochester. Much has been made of the fact that Cookson somewhat courageously “ripped the book apart” and had her company of actors re-assemble the production without an actual script. It appears to have been a gamble that has paid off. Cookson’s goal, according to Madeleine
on her own terms. From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre’s spirited heroine faces life’s obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before ultimately deciding to follow her own heart.
blood story out of what remains a set school text in Britain. Subsequently, the Telegraph’s theatre critic described an “inventive, engaging and unexpectedly funny performance”. ‘There is nothing gentle or pastoral or in-
1. The Astir in Vouliagmeni (plus you can
Pumpkin casserole Give thanks for family and friends by making one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes! Plan the ultimate holiday feast with Insider’s easy-to-make pumpkin casserole recipe as your centrepiece. INGREDIENTS
4 pounds yellow squash, sliced
take home a ready turkey kit!). Tel: 210.890.2000 or ariorestaurantathens.com, 2. At the GB Roof Garden. Tel: 210.333.0000 grandebretagne.gr, 3. NJV Athens Plaza Tel: 210.335.2400, njvathensplaza.gr, 4. Park Radisson Blu 210.889.4500 rbathenspark.com, and 5.
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook yellow squash and sweet onion in boiling water to 1 cup (4 oz.) freshly shredded Cheddar cover in oven 8 minutes or just until vegetables are tender; drain squash mixture well. cheese 2. Combine squash mixture, freshly shred1 cup mayonnaise Cheddar cheese, next 5 ingredients, 1 ded 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil cup breadcrumbs, and 3/4 cup Parmesan 1 teaspoon garlic salt cheese. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 9-inch baking dish. 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 3. Stir together melted butter, French 2 cups soft, fresh breadcrumbs, divided fried onions, and remaining 1 cup bread1 1/4 cups (5 oz.) freshly shredded Par- crumbs and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. mesan cheese, divided Sprinkle over squash mixture. 2 tablespoons butter, melted 4. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until set. 1/2 cup crushed French fried onions This page was produced, in its entirety, by Insider Publications and the INYT-Kathimerini does not bear any responsibility for its contents. Reproduction in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, is forbidden except with the express written permission of the publisher. Although Insider Publications has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions it may contain.
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sipid about the relationship between Jane and Rochester,’ explained Worrall in The Guardian. ‘They’re both clever and witty and odd. Rochester is described as “strikingly peculiar” in the book, and Jane is too. They’re not comfortable characters. And Charlotte Brontë wasn’t either.’ ‘Sally (Cookson) was very keen – and I was too – that Jane was not some little dolly. Brontë was a modernist, and Jane Eye is full of uncomfortable rage and a sense of justice. We felt that it was important not to hide that away in some beautifully proportioned, prissy presentation,’ Worrall continued. Asked what was her favourite thing about Jane Eyre – Victorian literature’s original Plain Jane, she replied: ‘I think it’s her unapologetic desire to live a life she feels is truthful for her.’
Jane Eyre will be simulcast at the Alexandra Trianti Hall, Vass. Sophias & Kokkali, Athens, on December 8, at 9pm. Tickets are €15 (€8 for students). Tel: 210.728.2333 or visit www.megaron.gr.