The Athens Concert Hall represents the vision and hard work of a group of enlightened individuals: Alexandra Trianti, Lambros Eftaxias and, above all, Christos Lambrakis. A remarkable personality, with an exceptional combination of imagination and practical ability, Lambrakis was an inspiration and a model for all those involved in the creation of the Concert Hall.

We have continued to build on the values and principles of these individuals over the last twenty years, moving in new directions, building closer links to the public, reaching out to young people, supporting the arts and culture in Greece. We are ready to meet the challenges of the future, even in this period of crisis and uncertainty. We believe that these are times in which culture and the arts can play a vital role in reinforcing national and social cohesion.

The Athens Concert Hall was created with the support of the Greek government, and of all our fellow citizens. It belongs to the Greek people, and especially to the younger generation. It is part of our national cultural heritage.

In the current phase of its evolution the Concert Hall is developing the tools which will allow it to continue its work and make its initiatives even more effective. We are developing an organizational structure based on the principles of flexibility, collectivity and adjustment to new conditions and circumstances.

At the same time, in view of the present crisis, we will be doing all we can to develop the Concert Hall’s own resources.

We lay particular emphasis on the quality of our artistic programme, which we hope will attract new audiences from all classes of society, particularly young people. We have reduced ticket prices for young people, the unemployed and senior citizens. The response among these groups has been very encouraging, and has far exceeded our expectations.

From the very beginning we have had two main objectives: building links to institutions in other countries (agreements with La Scala, the Teatro Royal in Madrid, the Pompidou Centre and Cite Science, and the National Theatre in London), and forging closer links with our own city (concert at Agios Panteleimonas, agreements with the Athens City Council, the University of Athens and the National Network for Research and Technology). Attempts to introduce the Concert Hall to a wider audience have involved opening up the gardens to the public for events attended by thousands of people, mainly from the younger generation, as well as various other community initiatives.

We attach particular importance to forging long-term relations of trust with our sponsors, to whom we are indebted for their support, so far in excess of our expectations in quantity and quality. We also owe our thanks to all those who have joined our membership schemes.

Thanks to this support, we have been able to operate a sound three-year artistic and financial programme, with a healthy and rationally structured operating budget.

The Athens Concert Hall – the city’s foremost cultural organization – can look forward with confidence to the challenges of the future.

Ioannis Manos
Chairman of the Board