Athens State Orchestra & Ilias Voudouris
Biography Athens State Orchestra & Ilias Voudouris
Athens State Orchestra
Founded in the late 19th century as the Athens Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra is the oldest symphonic ensemble in Greece. Since its official founding in 1943, it has played a leading role in the country’s musical life, performing masterpieces of the global repertoire while promoting Greek composers.
In addition to more than fifty annual concerts in Greece and abroad, the orchestra also engages in equally important educational and public relations work. Renowned conductors and soloists—including Strauss, Mitropoulos, Rostropovich, Argerich, and Kavakos—have graced its stage.
Since October 2020, Lukas Karytinos has been the musical director.
Ilias Voudouris
a key figure in Greek musical life, was conductor of the Greek National Opera for nearly four decades and directed more than 60 productions.
He trained in Berlin and Salzburg and worked with orchestras throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America Voudouris championed both the classical canon and the Greek opera repertoire, leaving a lasting legacy when he retired in 2024.
