GREECE – A special concert is organised this June in Athens at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler (United Kingdom 2013), Rita Wilson, Sakis Rouvas (Greece 2004, 2009), The Rasmus (Finland 2022), Lena Hall, Kip Wigner, Chris Willis, Tabitha Fair, Justin Benlolo and Andreas Carlsson will join forces on stage for a cause:

The return of the Parthenon Marbles

THE CAUSE

After gaining its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832, the newly founded Greek state began a series of projects to restore its looted monuments and art. It has expressed its disapproval of Elgin’s removal of the Marbles from the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which is regarded as one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.

International efforts to repatriate the Marbles to Greece were intensified in the 1980s by then Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri, and there are now many organisations actively campaigning for the Marbles’ return, several united as part of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.

The Greek government itself continues to urge the return of the marbles to Athens so as to be unified with the remaining marbles and for the complete Parthenon frieze sequence to be restored, through diplomatic, political and legal means.

In 2014, UNESCO offered to mediate between Greece and the United Kingdom to resolve the dispute, although this was later turned down by the British Museum on the basis that UNESCO works with government bodies, not trustees of museums.

In 2021, UNESCO issued its first decision on the Parthenon Marbles, calling for the United Kingdom to return them to Greece.

HEADED BY EUROVISION AUTHOR DESMOND CHILD

Child wrote the song “Believe in Me” for Bonnie Tyler in 2012 and one year later it was selected as the Eurovision Song Contest entry for the United Kingdom. Following the contest, Tyler received two Eurovision Song Contest Radio Awards for Best Song and Best Singer, making her the first UK representative to win the award.

He penned, Anders Fernette’s Melodifestivalen 2011 entry, RUN while he inspired the completion of JEZABEL by THE RASMUS in Folegandros, Greece!

THE CONCERT

The concert, which will be accompanied by a classical string orchestra, members of the Athens Philharmonia Pop Orchestra, a rock band, the children’s choir of Spyros Lambros and of course, Desmond Child himself on stage, will feature great and favourite names of the international music firmware:

This unique, unrepeatable concert will not only turn the eyes of the international community in Greece, its people and Greek culture but, most importantly, it will pay tribute and declare its support for the ongoing global campaign to reunite the Parthenon Sculptures.

Desmond Child sends his message to the public for the concert DESMOND CHILD ROCKS THE PARTHENON.

“Hello! I’m Desmond Child and I’m so excited to come with my show, DESMOND CHILD ROCKS THE PARTHENON in Athens, on Monday, June 27 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. It will be a magical night full of the greatest hits of my career. Live on stage will be Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Rita Wilson, Sakis Rouvas, The Rasmus, Lena Hall, Kip Winger, George Lembesis, Chris Willis, Tabitha Fair, Justin Benlolo, Andreas Karlsson and me! Desmond Child! It will be one and only, an unrepeatable concert of life where rock music will meet a classical orchestra in the cradle of culture, presenting my most legendary collaborations: Livin ‘On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Dude Looks Like A Lady, Poison, Kings & Queens, Beautiful Now, I Was Made For Lovin ‘You, Livin’ La Vida Loca! This special concert is held in support of the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures in Greece, to raise awareness of the world public and to raise funds for the return of the Parthenon sculptures to their homes. I have been coming to Greece with my family for decades and I love this country with all my heart! I really feel like my second home. Join us on the night of Monday, June 27 at the imposing Conservatory of Herodes Atticus for the concert DESMOND CHILD ROCKS THE PARTHENON. “

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