375-402

Concerts, theatre, melodrama and other cultural events in the frame of the celebration of the marriage of Constantine I

• Ξεπαπαδάκου, Αύρα

The marriage of Prince Constantine of Greece (the future King Constantine I) with Princess Sophia, daughter of Emperor William II of Germany, was celebrated in Athens in the year 1889, constituting a major event in Greek political and social life. For that occasion, the Greek government programmed a series of cultural manifestations, giving rise to passionate debates and controversies. The author examines the articles and publications in the newspapers of that time, which reflect the climate prevailing in Athens. Three cultural events come out as most important: the representation of Aischylus’ Persae, at the Municipal Theatre of Athens, the musical score having been composed by the highly acclaimed Baron Saxe von Meiningen; the concert given by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Athens at the Zappeion Hall; and, finally, the Athenian premiere of the melodrama Flora Mirabilis, by Spyridon Philiskos Samaras. All these manifestations and the whole atmosphere of wealth and luxury displayed on the occasion of the marriage constituted a singular contrast with the degrading social, economic and national climate, which eventually led Greece to the disaster of 1897.

• History and Archaeology

• Ιστορία
• Κοινωνική ιστορία