Zorba the Greek - by Mikis Theodorakis

Synopsis of the Ballet

Scene from the Warszaw Production with Lorca Massine as Zorba

The ballet Zorba has had its triumphant world-wide first night at the Arena on August 6th 1988. It is a choral show in 2 acts and 22 scenes which has meanwhile been shown more than 600 times all over the world. The music is by Mikis Theodorakis; the ideation, production and coreography are by Lorca Massine; the scenes and costumes are by Ferruccio Villagrossi. The surroundings are an archaic community living on a Greek island.

In the first act Yorgos, a young native, falls in love with Marina, the most reserved and wooed girl on the island, who does not return his love; then John and Zorba arrive; there is a clash between the natives and John; Madame Hortense appears; Yorgos is increasingly insistent with Marina; a relationship of mutual understanding begins between John and Zorba; John and Marina meet.

In the second act Zorba is attracted by Hortense; the community puts pressure on Marina; John and Marina love each other; the young woman is smothered by the crowd and disappears; the relationship between John and Zorba continues; Hortense dies; Zorba is full of sadness; he overcomes his pain in his dance with John and, in the ending, with the entire community.

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