In the Land of Lilies showcases the artistic result of the second cycle of Melisma, an annual educational programme by the GNO Learning & Participation Department. A walking music theatre event featuring 70 performers, participants of the program, accompanied by the Children’s Choir and the Musical Ensemble of Krya Vrysi.
The performance is inspired by the landscape of Krya Vrysi and the living memory of communities in Northern Evia. Based on elements of folk tradition, local myths, and ritualistic practices, it unfolds as a six-stop journey. Each stop represents a distinct music theatre event, serving both as a choral commentary and a point of reflection on the inhabitants’ bond with their land, ancestral roots, daily practices, and historical continuity.
The performance adopts the core principles and goals of Iannis Xenakis, as reflected in his piece Polytopa, which was inextricably linked to the landmarks of Mycenae and Persepolis. The composer himself described these as a contribution from various Fields – including Geography, Art, Light, History, and Poetry, emphasizing a community’s active engagement as an act of awakening, as well as the role a place can play in shaping a community’s consciousness today.
