From Ancient Lyres to Albanian Lutes: Musical Meetings of Two Worlds Start in Himara and End in Paris

The project “ The Sound of the Ancient Lyre ” successfully began its journey within the framework of the XVI edition of the “ Musical Meetings of Two Worlds” . The first event took place in Himara, bringing to the stage one of the most emblematic instruments of Greek antiquity – the ancient lyre.

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the “Neço Muko” Cultural Hall, the training session “ A Gateway to the Ancient Art of the Lyre” was held . Under the leadership of Dr. Nikolaos Xanthoulis and his team, students from Himara schools were introduced to the art of playing the ancient Greek lyre. The program culminated with a collaborative performance between the children of Himara and Greek artists.

On Sunday evening, June 7, 2026, at 8:00 PM, Himara Promenade was filled with the public for the concert " The Sound of the Ancient Lyre". The main artists of the evening were:

Dr. Nikos Xanthoulis, composer, virtuoso of the ancient Greek seven-stringed lyre, researcher and artistic consultant to the Greek National Opera. He is considered the musician who revived the ancient lyre after 1600 years of silence.

Evangelia Kopsalidou, musicologist with a doctorate from the Sorbonne, professor and prominent librettist.

Sophia Karakouta, renowned mezzo-soprano, specializing in the ancient Greek repertoire.

The sounds of the ancient lyre transported the audience to the times of Greek mythology, where music and poetry were inseparable. The residents of Himara, local and foreign visitors followed this magical journey through the centuries with great enthusiasm.

In the opening remarks, the Deputy Mayor of Himara Municipality, Ms. Erifili Berberi, and the head of the Argjiro Association, Argjiro Ilda Mara, emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue and heritage preservation.

This 16th edition of the Musical Encounters of Two Worlds festival, organized by the Argjiro Association in collaboration with the International Free Music Academy (ILS Academy) and the Academy of Sciences of Albania, with the support of the Himara Municipality, was considered by the Himara public as one of the most qualitative cultural events of this early summer on the Albanian Riviera.

According to Mara, this year's edition of the "Musical Meetings of Two Worlds" is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and transmission of the ancient Greek lyre and the Albanian lute. After Himara and Tirana, the meetings will continue in Paris in the fall, where a series of activities about the Albanian lute will be organized with the renowned rhapsode Lumturije Nonaj.

This project aims to highlight the values ​​of cultural heritage, promoting its preservation, study and transmission to younger generations, as well as creating cultural bridges between peoples.

The project's journey continues in Tirana, where on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the Concert-Conference titled "From the Ancient Lyre to the Lyric Theater" with Dr. Nikolaos Xanthoulis will take place at the Archaeological Museum (Mother Teresa Square).