Sunday 01 April 2018 19:30
Τhere is nothing new under the sun
In April, Parabases, SNFCC's Readers Theater, presents a landmark of world literature - Ecclesiastes. Of unknown authorship, it is believed to have been written in the second half of 3rd century B.C.
The Ecclesiastes is part of both the Hebrew Tanach and the Christian Old Testament. Written in a peculiar form of NeoHebrew and using many Aramaic and Greek words, Ecclesiastes (Kohelet in the original, feminine active participle, hence also found as Ecclesiastria) is the wise teacher, the preacher, the one who presides over a religious gathering, the leader of a group of wise men and intellectuals addressing the public, preaching questioning and skepticism.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. A distillation of experience and study, the ideas in Ecclesiastes appeal to the reader and offer practical advice. The main question posed in Ecclesiastes is a question to all mankind: What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?
"I am not aware of any other book in world literature that deals so extensively, exclusively and incisively with the futility of this world and ephemerality of human existence," notes the Greek translator of Ecclesiastes, Alexandros Issaris.
Oscillating between poetry and rhythmic prose, and through a sequence of an almost free-association thought process, the author meditates on human destiny as a self-taught philosopher who goes beyond dogmatic theology. Thoughts in Ecclesiastes hark back to Stoic philosophers, Epicurus, Eastern philosophy.
This seminal text, its ideas and contradictions, never ceased to inspire writers, poets and thinkers through the centuries. Excerpts from Ecclesiastes can be found in literature and vocal music of all genres, as its expressive power and relevance of themes never fail to touch people.
Performed by: Olia Lazaridou (in Greek)
Director: Efi Theodorou
Translation: Alexandros Issaris
Harpsichord: Alexis Mastichiadis
Bibliographic reference (in Greek):
Title: Ecclesiastes, Vanitas Vanitatis… Introduction, commentary: M.Z. Kopidakis Translated into Greek by Alexandros Issaris Publisher: Olkos First edition: 1994 Current (5th) edition: 2018
Sunday 01/04 | 19.30
Free admission
Late seating is only possible if there is an intermission.
