CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE AT HUMANITARIAN EVENT IN ATHENS FOR LIFELINE HELLAS

Athens, 26 October 2009 - A humanitarian event took place last night in Athens organized by Lifeline Hellas Humanitarian Organization at the “Β & Μ Theocharakis Foundation for Fine Arts & Music”, under the auspice and in the presence of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine and joined by her daughter Mrs Alison Andrews.

The aim of this humanitarian event is to help the urgent modernization of delivery rooms in Serbian hospitals supporting the “Safe Delivery” project. The programme study is been undertaken by the Serbian Medical Committee of the HRH Princess Katherine Foundation with the collaboration of doctors from hospitals in Serbia.

It was a unique and enjoyable event, which included a visit to the important painting exhibition held at the “Β & Μ Theocharakis Foundation for Fine Arts & Music” titled “Alekos Fassianos - Tassis Papaioannou, Colour and Light in Painting and Architecture”. The coupling of painting and architecture, masterfully achieved by the highly acclaimed painter Alekos Fassianos and the well known professor of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens, Tassis Papaioannou represents the central axis of this exhibition that functions on many levels.

Following the visit to the painting exhibition a concert for violin and piano was performed where everyone had the pleasure to enjoy two exceptional musicians. Songs were performed by Aggeliki Kathariou, who sings a wide range of operatic and symphonic repertoire at venues including Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Opéra National du Rhin, Τhe Pharos Trust, Culturgest Hall (Lisbon), York National Centre of Early Music, Cité de la Musique (Paris), Budapest Spring Festival, Festival International de Marseille, Ferrara Festival, Odeon Herodes Atticus, Festival de la Roque d’Anthéron. Aggeliki Kathariou also performs extensively in numerous concerts of contemporary music. The piano was played by Dimitris Yiakas who studied at the National Conservatory in Athens, he continued his education at the Ecole Normale de Musiques de Paris (piano, chamber music and piano coaching (formation de chef de chant) and had lessons in vocal accompaniment with Dalton Baldwin. Later he took up a position as a coach at the Paris Opera, where he remained until 1991. He worked many times as coach at the Opera de Lyon at the invitation of Kent Nagano. In Athens he became one of the principal collaborators of the Greek National Opera and the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. He has coached the singers for world Premieres of many operas written by Greek composers. The two artists seduced the audience who enjoyed the musical notes that flooded the auditorium. A reception followed in the Café Merlin of the “Β & Μ Theocharakis Foundation for Fine Arts & Music”.

Among the attendees were: Η.Ε. the Ambassador of Serbia in Greece, Mr. Dragan Zupanjevic and his wife Mrs Borjana, the former Minister and Member of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Panayiotopoulos Panos, the President of the Association of Chinese People for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Chen Haosu and his wife Dr Zhao Qin, the Vice president of the Association of Chinese People for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr Dong Kaijan, the Director of the Association Mr Felix Hao Zhonqwei, the Vice president of Fujian University of Chinese Medicine, Mr Candong Li, Mrs. Jiang Zhu Professor of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Mrs Melina Skourti from the Melina Merkouri Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of Malina Merkouri Foundation Mr Spyros Merkouris with his wife, Mr. Dimitris Tsitouras, Mrs. Lisa Evert, Mrs Alexandra Evert, the famous Greek architect Mr Tassis Papaioannou, the famous Greek painter Mr. Fassianos Alekos with his wife Mariza.

The Greek companies who supported this event for the “Safe Deliver” project were: Motor Oil, OTE Academy, Eurobank EFG, Emporiki Bank, ANT1 Group, Winery Jelić, The B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music, Platis Catering.

Additional donations were given by: Mrs Ayiostratiti Efi, Mrs Vakaki Elpida, Mrs Vafia Ninetta, Mrs Birdiridis Katerina, Mrs Ebeirikou Maria, Mrs Ebeirikou Lila, Mrs Kontoverou Kiki, Mr Kyratsous Thanassis, Mr Lykiardopoulos Antonis, Mrs Mahaira Christine, Mrs Fleur Potamianos, Mrs Panayiotopoulos Litsa, Mrs Aspassia Ralli, Mrs Skalistiri Katerina, Mrs Stathi Mary, Mr Trikardos Ioannis, Mrs. Falierou Eva.

There were also anonymous donations.