Musicians

French pop opera diva Emma Shapplin returns to Greece for two appearances at the Galatsi Olympic Hall as part of the annual Christmas Theater program of cultural events. The artist will present a grand spectacular dedicated to love songs, with a cast of 100 that includes an orchestra and choir. For tickets, visit www.viva.gr or call 11876.

The Animals frontman Eric Burdon is set to perform at the Odeon of Herod Atticus. The soulful rock musician best known for the iconic song "The House of the Rising Sun," has spent three-quarters of his life entertaining audiences across the globe. In addition to The Animals, Burdon has worked with funk rock band War and also began a solo career in 1971. The concert begins at 9 p.m.

After living and crooning for years in Las Vegas, French-Canadian superstar Celine Dion has returned home to Quebec to kick off her first world tour in a decade on Sept. 18.

The Vassilis Tsitsanis Orchestra will perform at the open-air Petra Theater with Greek vocalists Dimitra Galani and Natassa Bofiliou on September 18. The singers will share songs by bouzouki legend Vassilis Tsitsanis, in a show marking 35 years since his death. Purchase tickets beginning at 13 euros from www.ticketservices.gr.

In its 10th year, Djangofest will feature nine bands and five dance groups in a celebration of gypsy jazz music inspired by 20th-century Belgian Jean "Django" Reinhardt at the Technopolis complex in Athens' Gazi district. "Django" Reinhardt traveled through Europe performing solo and in a quintet during the World War II era.

Violin superstar Nigel Kennedy is headed to Athens' iconic Herod Atticus Theater to perform his revolutionary interpretation of an all-time classic, Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," of which Kennedy's recording has sold a Guinness record-breaking 4 million-plus copies since its release in 1989.

Singer-songwriter Lavrentis Machairitsas has died aged 63, apparently of heart failure. 

Machairitsas, who had been vacationing at his summer home in the area of Ptelos, Magnisia, was transferred to Volos hospital early on Monday morning and passed away at 6.30 a.m., 

Conductor Ion Marin, honorary director of the "Madrigal - Marin Constantin" Chamber Music National Choir and founder of the Cantus Mundi National Programme, says in an interview to AGERPRES that music and culture in general represent a catalyst for Romania's change. "I believe in Romania's change, in the first place. And I believe music is a catalyst.

Greek-Cypriot pop star Anna Vissi is dedicating an evening of her summer concert tour to the eastern Attica town of Mati, which was devastated by a wildfire last year. Vissi, who represented Greece at the Eurovision song contests of 1980 and 2006, and Cyprus in 1982, is credited with being one of the key proponents in the explosion of the Greek pop scene in the 1990s.

Due to popular demand, the organizers of the Queen Symphonic show at the Herod Atticus Theater have added another date, Sunday, September 8. In the concert, leading actors from the West End musical "We Will Rock You" are joined by a 60-member symphony orchestra in some of the best-loved songs of the great British rock band Queen.