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Ballet in two acts and 22 scenes, Music by Mikis Theodorakis, based on the novel of Nikolais Kazantzakis
Location: Arena di Verona
Orchestra, Choir, Corp de ballet: Arena di Verona
Conductor: Mikis Theodorakis
Stage Director: Mikis Theodorakis
Stage Designer: Lorca Massine
Main Interpreters: Vladimir Vassiliev (Zorba), Gheorghe Iancu (John), Luciana Savignano (Marina), Rosalba Garavelli (Madame Ortense), Diego Ciavatti (Yorgos), Sofia Mikailidou (Singer), Costas Papadopulos (Buzuki player), Pantelis Kamezis (Buzuki player)

About the opera
John, a well-educated America tourist, arrives in a non specified place in Greece and is fascinated by the Greek traditions. He tries to integrate into the community, but the people, who see him as an 'outsider', are hostile towards him. Only Zorba, who possesses a great sense of friendship and a prejudice-free spirit , becomes close to John and a profound bond is formed between them. Zorba becomes a teacher for John who informs him of everything he needs to know about life and the problems which might be put in front of him. John falls in love with Marina, a young widow with whom Jorgos is also in love. Marina chooses John, and the people, interpreting this choice as a form of betrayal, condemn her to death. John, broken-hearted, isn't strong enough to deal with the pain. Zorba intervenes therefore and invites him to perform a liberating dance, which both celebrates and surpasses his suffering in the knowledge that life continues and one has to go on living. A short time later Madame Hortense, an ex-cabaret star with whom Zorba had had a passionate love affair, passes away. Death brings ill-ease and sadness also to Zorba; and this time John, reminding his master of the teachings he had learnt from him, urges him to perform the same liberating dance to restore life back in him. The energy and the Philosophy of the dance by Zorba and John entice the people to come together and join them to celebrate friendship and liberty, revoking the drama which they had just lived through.

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Release date: November 2008 Catalogue nr.: DMM-518 Video format: 4:3 NTSC Sound format: LPCM 2.0, DD 5.1 Menu: GB Booklet: GB, D, F, I, E Region code: 0 (worldwide) Running time: 117 min