In April 2006, the Greek National Opera, through Nikos Dontas, asked me for design proposals for the posters of its performances for the 2006-2007 season. I suggested a series of illustrations for the 12 performances, aiming to stand out from what we were seeing at that time, conveying the message that the Greek National Opera is modern and even experimental. At the same time, my goal was to express the central theme, the essential element of each work, on the surface of the poster in the simplest and clearest way.

A bit earlier, we had completed an experimental project in the office based on the faces (portraits) of my direct collaborators. I transferred this idea to the first cycle, giving the portrait of the central character of each work. Year by year, the images unfolded, with a new central idea for each period while simultaneously trying to ensure that the identity of the Greek National Opera was immediately perceivable, clear, and unique. The move of the Opera to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in 2017 also marked the birth of the alternative stage, whose artistic identity has been entirely taken on since then and until the 2019-2020 season by my son Menelaos, as it became evident along the way.

As the artistic director of the Greek National Opera, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Giannis Kouroudis, one of the most successful Greek graphic designers. I was familiar with his work, as through it the organization had developed a specific profile and identity already since the years of the "Olympia" theater. The new beginning of the Greek National Opera at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center signified the operation of two stages, the Main and the Alternative, as well as the dynamic promotion of the organization beyond Greece's borders.

I had been impressed by the "pictograms," the designs for the 2004 Olympic Games competitions. I found it original and brilliant to not choose a futuristic computer design, but a proposal that came from a human hand. I also knew about the successful promotional campaign for Korres cosmetic products. Those years were groundbreaking for Greek standards, as they revealed a creator who understood what was happening internationally.

In 2006, Stefanos Lazaridis took over the Greek National Opera, wanting the printed programs and posters to reflect the deeper essence of each work. He created the Department of Dramaturgy with this goal, trusting its organization to me. Giannis Kouroudis was excited by the idea of giving an artistic identity to a cultural organization, something that was unprecedented even abroad.

Designs were created with an absolutely personal style that stood out from the sea of photographs surrounding them. The Greek National Opera became recognizable to everyone, and the nearly ten-year collaboration followed a different axis each year. The result is an aesthetically impressively consistent set of artistic proposals that has received top Greek and international awards.

The design of Giannis Kouroudis became synonymous with the Greek National Opera and vice versa. A successful journey, part of which is presented on the pages of the book you hold in your hands.

Contents: The images and stories behind: 97 Operas, 24 Ballets, 9 Operettas, 6 Festivals, 4 Musical Theaters, 3 Musicals, 3 Concerts, 1 Opera – Ballet, 1 Dance, 1 Tribute. With two different covers. Different signed posters.