Yannis Ritsos – Thodoris Lempesis

A Midsummer Afternoon’s Dream (1938) by Yannis Ritsos is a poetic tribute to youth—to the years of innocence, joy, and freedom. It was written during the period from 1937 to 1943, often regarded as one of the poet’s most prolific and lyrically inspired creative phases.

In his second major musical composition, following Moonlight Sonata, composer Thodoris Lempesis explores, through a dialogue between music and the spoken word, a world of images, childhood memories, places, moments, sounds, and the passage of time. The result is a compelling artistic conversation between poetry and music.

Audiences will experience Ritsos’s richly evocative poem through the narration of acclaimed actress Panagiota Vlanti. Presented as a staged concert reading that blends music and spoken word, the performance invites listeners to become part of the “dream” and journey back to the carefree summers of childhood, suspended in the timeless light of a midsummer afternoon.

Credits

• Poem: Yannis Ritsos
• Actress & Narrator: Panagiota Vlanti
• Music Composition: Thodoris Lempesis
• Accompanied by: Chamber Orchestra