Greek-influenced Rock Opera Experience
Coming to Astoria, NY!
Come join us on a thrilling, historical, cultural journey
through Music, Dance, and Theater with
“The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita”
Fundraiser for St. Demetrios Prep School
June 24th, Friday at 7:00 PM
June 25th, Saturday at 7:00 PM
June 26th, Sunday at 5:00 PM
Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center
St. Demetrios Preparatory School
30-03 30th Dr, Astoria
Astoria, NY 11102
Watch The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita Promo here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Porphyra Foundation is excited to share with you a wonderful production being put together with St. Demetrios Preparatory School for the Greater Astoria community.
Set in the year 988 AD, the Heroic Age of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium, the story chronicles Basil’s sister Princess Anna Porphyrogenita and her world-rocking marriage to Grand Prince Vladimir. The show also explores Penelope Delta’s incredible world, as envisioned by the great author, of Emperor Basil II’s Byzantine Greek Macedonian Renaissance, his struggles, victories, and aspirations for his people and family.
Our community is getting the “Off-Broadway ” experience it deserves. This Porphyra Foundation‘s show has premiered in Carnegie Hall and Off-Broadway. This is a musical in the Rock Opera genre where it features Rock Guitars and Greek ethnic instruments such as the Tzoura, the Pontian Lyra, and Greek Percussion (Daouli and Dumberleki). It features school dancers, actors, a Greek Children’s Choir, and Greek folk numbers from the school dance groups. The Greek American Folklore Society (GAFS) is also participating, and we have many more surprises in store. The show is open to all ages.
There is also a special tribute to Electric Guitar pioneer, Epaminondas (“Epi”) Stathopoulos, of Epiphone guitar fame and the Zildjian Cymbal making family!
Most importantly, this is a Fundraiser for St. Demetrios Preparatory School and all its wonderful music, art, and dance programs, so we urge everyone to attend and bring their family and friends.
The show is running for a full weekend and there are three dates.
June 24th, Friday at 7:00 PM
June 25th, Saturday at 7:00 PM
June 26th, Sunday at 5:00 PM
Admission $35
Here is the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
For Physical tickets please email Billy Chrissochos at vchrissochos@gmail.com
or call 917-617-0597.
St. Demetrios Website: https://www.sdprep.org/the-
St. Demetrios Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/
Porphyra Facebook Event Page: https://fb.me/e/1nhg7Nm8D
Event Featured on Queens Scene Website:
And Stay Happening: https://stayhappening.com/e/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
IHeart radio: https://www.iheart.com/artist/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
ITunes: https://music.apple.com/us/
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/
The Cast:
On vocals:
Elaine Tuttle as Princess Anna Porphyrogenita
Andreas Pliatsikas as Emperor Basil II
Dorit as Grand Princess Olga on vocals
Christos Alexandrou as Grand Prince Vladimir
Band is:
Billy Chrissochos on guitar
Mike “Risko” Savvas on guitar and tzoura
Derek Ortiz on bass
Richard Khuzami on percussion
Tracey “Tre” Beavers on drums
Special Guest:
Dimitris Stefanidis on the Pontian Lyra
Dancers:
Frida Kasimis
Konstantina Koulouriotis
Stamatoula Figetakis
Belly Dancer:
Dorit
Special Guests:
G.A.F.S.
Greek American Folklore Society
Director
Thea Gibbs
Tech and Crew:
Dimitris Carabas
Petros Stassinos
Maria Karamaniolas
Evangelia Ruppaner
About PORPHYRA:
In 1998, Billy Chrissochos co-founded the Hard Rock/Power Metal group Phoenix Reign (previously Phoenix), which in 2007 spawned a cult classic album called Destination Unknown. In 2013, the outfit was eventually re-branded as Porphyra, and as it became its own entity, in 2014 the world was introduced to a new album called Faith, Struggle, Victory, that would spawn a Rock Opera. This inspirational new album was labeled “Melodic Metal for the Soul” and “Byzantine Rock” by the press. New York City finally got the eclectic, modern Rock band it deserved that incorporated Hard Rock and Symphonic Metal with Greek folk, punk, progressive and classical textures.
The MMA inspired music video for “No Fear” featuring guitarist Mike “Risko” Savvas and directed by fellow co-guitarist Billy Chrissochos was an Official Selection in the Williamsburg Film Festival in September 2015.
On May 3rd, 2015 Porphyra the band did the impossible. A dream becomes a reality and years of hard work come to fruition. “Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera. Anna and Vladimir: The love that ROCKED the world,” debuted and electrified Zankel Hall at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. The music based on the album with additional compositions, dances and so much more, thrilled the finicky NY crowd. This was the first Greek Inspired Rock Opera of its kind and the first to debut at Carnegie Hall’s renowned Zankel Theater. “This was a first step towards taking our opera to the Broadway stage,” states founder Billy Chrissochos.
Set in the year 988 AD, the Heroic Age of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium, the story chronicles the real-life romance between Princess Anna Porphyrogenita and Grand Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus. An incredible story of Love, War and Peace brought to life through Hard Rock and Greek Folk music, dancing, actors, and a full rock orchestra.
On May 13th-15th, 2016, “Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera,” made its triumphant Off Broadway debut for a three day limited run at the famed West Village Players Theatre. With more songs and characters the shows electrified the weekend’s audiences. The group and show was awarded and is now officially under the auspices of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its Greek affiliate UNESCO Club of the Department of Piraeus and Islands.
Community leaders finally began to see the educational benefit and entertainment value of “Anna and Vladimir: The love that ROCKED the world.” On June 2nd-3rd, 2017, for three shows, the updated production debuted at the historic Flushing Town Hall in Queens, NY. The show was proudly presented by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and UNESCO recognized the Chamber for their cross-cultural presentation of Porphyra’s Rock Opera during a news conference on Friday, May 13, 2017. This press conference brought the production team for the first time to the Asian community of Flushing. The production is critically hailed as “PICK OF THE WEEK” from “It’s in Queens” popular online blog, the Queens Tribune and Queens Gazette. And the press, local and civic leaders rave and give their seal of approval! The opera incorporates rock and roll, dance, and theatrics to entertain and educate people on a fascinating era of history (with lessons for today).
July of 2017 Porphyra released their highly anticipated follow up album The Starmaker’s Prophecy, featuring new songs that are included in the updated Rock Opera. The album is released under their own label, “Nobody’s Records,” in conjunction with UNESCO. After a few smaller shows and online specials the band held an outdoor free concert on July 20th, 2021, for some 500 eager fans, at the famous Athens Square Park in Astoria, Queens, NYC.
They are now set to release their epic third album this summer titled, The Spirit of 1821. This has more tales about Greek history and mythology ranging with everything from Orpheus and Eurydice, King Leonidas of Sparta, Achilles, The Greek Revolution, Byzantium, and even a Greco-Romanian tale of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), and the Armenian epic post WWI story of Operation Nemesis.
The new Rock Opera, “The Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita,” incorporates much of the previous story and now even adds music from all four albums, including the Phoenix Reign album and the upcoming third Porphyra album, as well as new arrangements of classic Greek folk dance songs.
HERE IS WHAT THE PRESS, ALONG WITH LOCAL AND CIVIC LEADERS, HAD TO SAY ABOUT PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES OF PORPHYRA, A GRECIAN ROCK OPERA, THE BAND AND THE MUSIC!
“My small country, Greece, which is going through troubled times now, has a very strong weapon; its culture, history and the arts. Byzantine History is a most attractive history and the way Porphyra has worked to create this very important show, has breathed new life to the pivotal story of Anna and Vladimir. On behalf of the UNESCO club of the department of Piraeus and Islands I congratulate the work of our Director of Modern Music in NY, Mr. Billy Chrissochos, on his mission to educate and build Cross–Cultural bridges between the Asian and Greek communities and the greater American public.” – Mr. Ioannis Maronitis, President of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands and Member of the Board of the World Federation of Associations and Club Centers for UNESCO.
“Porphyra, A Grecian Rock Opera is a wonderful blend of Greek history and modern rock music. A new experience everyone should see.” – Queens Community Board 1 District Manager Florence Koulouris.
“A live band playing their original rock music accompanied by spectacular belly dancers and folk dancing. It is really worth it!” – World Journal. Most influential Chinese-language newspaper in North America.
