Origins / Baku 2015 European Games Opening Ceremony
Music Script, Music Supervisor, Artistic Associate to the Creative Director
Commissioned by the Baku 2015 Organising Committee for the First European Games (BEGOC), the opening ceremony of the Games was created by Dimitris Papaioannou in 2015. The music script was a music collage from works by the most notable Azeri composers of the 20th century as well as original re-interpretations of the Azeri folk music tradition. The music script was recorded by Theodore Currentzis and Musica Aeterna to suit the needs of the show. In 2016 the music of the show was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.
Commissioned by the Baku 2015 Organising Committee for the First European Games (BEGOC)
12 June 2015 at the Baku Olympic Stadium
120 minutes
Conceived, visualised and directed by Dimitris Papaioannou
Music Directors: Teodor Currentzis & Vangelino Currentzis
Production Designers: Thanassis Demiris & Eva Manidaki
Lighting Designer: Robert A. Dickinson
Costume Designer: Yashi
Pyrotechnic Designer: Eric Tucker
Associate Artistic Director: Tina Papanikolaou
Miniatures Segment Director and Designer: Angelos Mentis
Director of Mass Choreography: Bryn Walters
Choreographer (Miniatures): Kat Válastur
Choreographer (Male Dance & Yalli): Nikos Lagousakos
Artistic Associate & Music Script: Stephanos Droussiotis
Artistic Associate & Texts: Kyriacos Karseras
Director of Ceremonies: Catherine Ugwu
Senior Technical Director: Nick Eltis
Executive Producer: Scott Givens
with
Alim Qasimov (shaman)
Natig Shirinov (drummer)
Ilkin Aslanov (Nizami)
Patricia Zarnovican (Leyli puppet)
Marquese Scott (Majnun puppet)
Robyn Simpson (Europa)
Nargiz Nasirzada (woman)
Aydamir Aydamirov (man)
and over 1750 volunteer performers from Azerbaijan