BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- "The year of Greek Culture in China" featuring
an ambitious array of events was launched here to showcase both ancient Hellenic
culture and modern Greece.
Opening the event here on Wednesday, Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis
said the aim of the event was to attract global interest "by constantly
presenting a flavor of Greek culture in the country which is organizing the 2008
Olympic Games".
The Minister noted that they aimed to "present the modern character and the
development over history of Greek civilization to the Chinese people". He added
that the Year of Greek Culture would further enhance ties between the two
countries.
The event will officially begin on October 19 with a concert featuring
Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis' new work "Alexander: Paths You Haven't
Travelled" at the Beijing Poly Theater.
An exhibition, named "Classical Memories in Contemporary Greek Art", runs
from October 16 to November 16 in the Beijing-based Capital Museum.
Others events include theatrical and dance performances, cinema tributes,
archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and
popular music, conferences and book exhibitions.
The theatrical performances include classical dramas with a history of over
2000 years, like Aristophanes' comedy "The Birds" and Sophocles' tragedy "Aias".
Dance performance "Medea," whose director is also the artistic director of
the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, will be
performed in May and June 2008.
As part of one-year long program, the Hellenic Cultural Center has been set
up adjacent to Beijing's Forbidden City, and activities including exhibitions,
seminars and lectures will be held there.
