As the summer sun sets over Ermoupoli’s elegant neoclassical streets, the historic Apollo Theater once again takes center stage for one of Greece’s longest-running classical music festivals outside Athens. From July 12 to 25, the 22nd SYRREO International Classical Music Festival brings opera, chamber music, and theatrical performances to Syros, pairing world-class artists with one of the Cyclades’ most captivating cultural settings.

Held under the auspices of UNESCO for the second consecutive year and organized by Greece’s Maritime Culture and Environment Group (CEM), the festival has grown into a landmark institution, bringing internationally acclaimed performers together with emerging talent while celebrating Syros’ rich artistic heritage.

As the island’s oldest classical music festival, SYRREO has spent more than two decades cultivating a program that extends well beyond the concert hall. Under the artistic direction of Nikolas Kavakos, this year’s edition combines outstanding performances with educational initiatives, youth engagement, and community outreach, reflecting the organizers’ belief that classical music should be open and accessible to all.

Festival founder and president Fotis A. Karayiannopoulos sums up the philosophy behind the event: “Do not regard classical music with apprehension, nor reduce the Greek summer to merely physical pleasure. It ought also to be understood as a form of nourishment and restoration for the soul.” He describes Syros as unique among the islands of the world, where the Cycladic landscape is complemented by “an untouched European city of remarkable integrity,” whose elegant 19th-century architecture has remained largely unchanged over time.

Among this year’s highlights is “Oletires in Ancient Drama,” the opening production on July 12, which explores the figure of the passionate and oppressed woman through texts by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, combining theater, original music, and classical literature. Opera enthusiasts can also enjoy an evening of celebrated arias and duets with soprano Annie Fassea and tenor Ioannis Kalyvas on July 13, while internationally acclaimed baritone Dimitris Platanias joins pianist Sofia Tamvakopoulou for a program devoted to Mozart and Wagner on the 20th.

On July 22, soprano Myrto Papathanasiou headlines “Lyrical Confessions,” performing works by Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Dvořák.

Supporting emerging talent remains central to the festival’s mission. The “We Listen to the Young” initiative on July 15 showcases prize-winning musicians selected through a nationwide program designed to help launch the careers of promising young classical performers.

Ermoupoli Celebrates 200 Years

This year has already seen one of SYRREO’s landmark events: a commemorative concert marking the 200th anniversary of the naming of Ermoupoli, presented by the Greek National Opera’s Gr Echo Brass Ensemble in the courtyard of the Church of the Transfiguration, where the city’s name was first chosen in 1826.

Education remains central to the festival’s mission. Earlier this year, SYRREO partnered with El Sistema Greece Academy and Arco Sonore to present workshops, orchestral training, and interactive performances for children, giving young participants the opportunity to perform on the stage of the Apollo Theater alongside professional musicians.

With its blend of exceptional music, community engagement, and one of the Aegean’s most beautiful urban landscapes, the SYRREO Festival offers visitors another compelling reason to discover Syros beyond its beaches. For two weeks each July, the island once again demonstrates why it has become one of Greece’s leading cultural destinations.

For more information and the full program of events, please visit the official website.