Premiere of the documentary “The Art of the Lyra in Crete”
The Thirathen Museum of Traditional Music, Instruments, Research and Documentation and the Region of Crete present the new documentary “The Art of the Lyra in Crete” (Η τέχνη της λύρας στην Κρήτη) on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November 2026 at 20:00, at the Heraklion Municipal Polycentre. Admission is free.
The Cretan lyra is the voice of the island: at the feast, the wedding, the mantinada and in memory. The documentary traces the history of the instrument through the centuries, how it took shape and how it came to Crete. It also records characteristic examples of music from every part of Crete, so that local musical idioms that are fading with time can be preserved.
Ten leading figures of the Cretan lyra take part: lyra players Stelios Vasilakis, Nektarios Klostrakis, Nikos Manioudakis, Michalis Belivanis, Ross Daly, Dimitris Pasparakis, Stelios Petrakis, Dimitris Sgouros and Zacharias Spyridakis, together with instrument maker Manolis Stagakis.
The aim of the project is to give young researchers and musicians a solid foundation for an in-depth study of the continuous evolution of the tradition. It continues the Museum’s documentation series, following “The Art of the Laouto in Crete” (2023), so that the knowledge of the people who keep Cretan music alive is recorded and remains available to the public, schools and researchers.
The evening includes the screening, behind-the-scenes moments from the production, an award ceremony for the participants, and talks and a discussion with the audience.
Information
- When: Friday 27 & Saturday 28 November 2026, 20:00
- Where: Heraklion Municipal Polycentre, Heraklion, Crete
- Admission: free
- Organised by: Region of Crete, Thirathen Museum
- Production: Thirathen Museum · Executive production: Odd Frame
- Directed by: Thanos Chalkiadakis Christoforatos, Christos Koumaradios
- Director of Photography: Thanos Chalkiadakis Christoforatos, Minas Ladomenos
- Sound recording / Sound editing: Stelios Tsatsarakis
- Additional footage: Panos Markou
- Editing: Thanos Chalkiadakis Christoforatos, Christos Koumaradios
- Info: +30 2810 711196 · info@thirathen.com
