Eight-year-old Greek piano prodigy lights up Temple of Olympian Zeus

·

Eight-year-old Greek piano prodigy Stelios Kerasidis has dazzled guests once again, this time in front of Athenians at Temple of Olympian Zeus in celebration of Greece taking over presidency of the Council of Europe.

The piano wonder child started performing in public at the age of five. At age six, he became the youngest Greek musician to perform a Chopin waltz at Carnegie Hall.

The talented performer then penned an “isolation waltz” inspired by the coronavirus pandemic. The composition is a moving piece of music dedicated to all the people who continue to suffer across the world from the disease, as well as those who are forced to stay at home in isolation.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Kerasidis for his performance.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday evening addressed the event inaugurating Greece’s presidency of the Council of Europe at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.

The president hailed a “special opportunity” for a country that suffered during the economic crisis and came through due to the sacrifices of its people as well as its membership of the European Union.

Photo: Greek Reporter

Greece has since become “an international example for managing a health crisis,” Sakellaropoulou added, referring to the country’s relative success to date in containing the spread of the coronavirus. 

The event was opened by Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, who is the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Following the ceremony, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was illuminated red, marking Greece’s take over of the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The ancient temple of Zeus is illuminated with red light in front of the ancient Acropolis hill during a ceremony in Athens tonight to mark Greece taking over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. @apnews/@PGiannakouris
Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Drop war threat to access EU defence funds, Greek PM tells Turkey

Greece's PM has said Turkey must withdraw its long-standing threat of war against Greece if it wants access to European Union defence funding

World Blood Donor Day: Nikos explains why he rolls up his sleeves and donates the gift of life

Nikos, has been a blood donor for over 20 years and so far, he has made more than one hundred donations both in Greece and in Australia.

Amorgos enacts historic fishing ban after 90% stock decline

Pending government approval, the new rules will enforce full fishing bans in three key areas—Katapola, Nikouria, and Gramvousa.