THERE’S an interesting marriage of art and music going on these days in Athens – a truly wonderful idea and experience. The Athens State Orchestra is performing some concerts at various annexes of the Benaki museum: Kicking off with a trio of musicians playing works by Schubert and Brahms at the Benaki’s Hadjikyriakos-Ghika museum on Monday, March 21. The concert starts at 8.30pm, but will be complemented by a tour of the museum beforehand (at 7.30pm) which used to be the home and studio of the great artist.
Next up on Monday April 4, the Benaki’s Museum of Islamic Art will be offering viewers a tour of the new exhibition there (‘Thomas Hope, Drawings of Ottoman Constantinople’) at 7.30pm, followed by two members of the Athens State Orchestra’s interpretations of works by Mozart, Franck and Brahms (at 8.30pm).
On May 16, the Benaki’s central building will be providing visitors with a tour of its artefacts from the prehistoric, geometric and archaic periods (at 7.30pm), together with a concert by another three orchestra members, who this time will be performing works by Francaix, Villa-Lobos and Kapustin (at 8.30pm).
On International Music Day (June 22), a concert will take place at the Benaki museum’s Pireos annexe, featuring works by Spanish composers and performed by Metallon – the orchestra’s brass and percussion ensemble.
Tickets at 7 euros for these events can be bought from the Benaki museum’s various annexes. But because the tours are limited to around 35 people, those interested should book their place in advance (tel: 210-367-1015, Monday-Thursday 10am-2pm).

Meanwhile, the Sotiris Felios Collection will be combining its current show of works by Rorris, with some live baroque music on March 23 (8pm), for free. Doors will close after 8.15 however, so come early.

(Below, work by Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas)