ASTORIA – The rock musical extravaganza, The Byzantine Story of Princess Anna Porphyrogenita was presented by Vassilios Chrissochos’ Porphyra Foundation on April 22, at St. Demetrios Preparatory School in Astoria in the Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center wowing the audience, as well as academics and other musicians and artists present.

The directors of this incredible production were Thea Gibbs and Christos Alexandrou, while the costume and prop master was Despina Chrissochos.

The musical contained traditional dances in modern arrangements which were presented by the Greek American Folklore Society and the Hellenic Dancers of the St. John’s community of Blue Point, Long Island, acrobatics by the Loupakis Athletic Center, the amazing Kamarr the Magician joined by the President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Rene Clement, ‘The Greek Phalanx’ Living History Reenactors, and stilt walkers and performers from Skyz the Limit Circus and Live Entertainment. There was belly dancing by the one and only Dorit, and original choreography by the school’s ‘Porphyra’ dancers Frida Kasimis, Konstantina Koulouriotis, and Stamatoula Figetakis.

The orchestra seamlessly married traditional and rock instruments and was performed by Vassilios Chrissochos on guitar, Mike Savvas on guitar and tzoura, Derek Ortiz on bass, Tracey Beavers on drums, Richard Khuzami on percussion, Rafailia Kapsokavadi on violin, and Dimitris Stefanidis on Pontian Lyra.

The dynamic performers included Christos Alexandrou as Emperor Basil II Porphyrogenitos, Byzantine emperor of the Macedonian Dynasty, Elaine Tuttle as Princess Anna Porphyrogenita, the sister of Basil II, a role she has played since the 2015 debut in Carnegie Hall, Ron Iglesias as Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of the Kievan Rus, and Dorit as Princess Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir.

The narrators were Ioanna Triantafillos and Robert Sulea who portrayed author Penelope Delta and Byzantine historian Michael Psellos, respectively. They took the audience on a journey giving us an account of a forgotten and unknown part of history. Set in the year 988 AD, the Heroic Age of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium, the story chronicles Princess Anna Porphyrogenita, her heroic adventures, and her world-rocking marriage to Grand Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus.

Alpha Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion – ‘the Greek god’ – Dimitris Papadon was the featured guest playing the role of Basil I the Macedonian (Basil II’s forefather) and Alexander the Great.

During the musical, the audience had the chance to visit a Byzantine-style ‘Renaissance Faire’ village with select vendors.

The music featured is from Porphyra’s three albums, ‘Faith, Struggle, Victory,’ ‘The Starmaker’s Prophecy,’ and the upcoming ‘1821’, and Phoenix Reign’s ‘Destination Unknown.’

Porphyra’s music is available online.

Apple Music: https://apple.co/444aT9j

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LbWIpU

IHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3LxVmYc

Phoenix Reign’s music is also available online.

Apple Music: https://apple.co/41X0Oco

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3n6DCtr

IHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/41EBGqV

For more information, visit: www.porphyraband.com  and www.porphyrafoundation.org.