Opera performance to honour late student's vision

An opera written by a University of Reading student who died from cancer earlier this year will be performed in his memory in June.

Christos Salatelis, a PhD student in Languages and Cultures, wrote the libretto for Helle, The Opera. ‘Helle’ is based on the life of Helle Lambridis (1896-1970), a modern Greek philosopher and educator.

Christos worked closely with the Hungarian composer Janos Agocsi on the music, raised funds, and arranged to have the opera staged on campus, before he died aged 55 in April.

This free-to-attend performance will go ahead as he planned it on Sunday 7 June, 19:30-20:30, in Minghella Studio on Whiteknights Campus. Book to attend.

Although Christos will not be in the audience to witness it, members of his family and loved ones are expected to attend.

Christos was studying for a PhD on education through art, looking in particular at the English educator Sir Alec Clegg.

He came to Reading as a mature student, having completed his studies in Art History at Birkbeck, University of London in 2016 and his Master of Arts degree in 2018.Christos’ PhD was funded by a prestigious scholarship from the Arts and Humanities Council.

He was also a key student member of the Society for Modern Greek Studies. He had been organising the Society’s annual research colloquium in Reading - a major event bringing together researchers on Modern Greece from around the world.

Christos became interested in Lambridis’ work as a progressive educator in his home country of Greece. Lambridis spent 20 years in the UK (1939-59), initially coming with a British Council scholarship to study the British education system.

During her life, Lambridis was active in left-wing Greek politics and was a published writer of fiction and on archaeology. The Elli Lambridi Philosophical Library was established in her name in Athens after her death in 1970.

Lambridis was also at one time a collaborator and romantic partner of the acclaimed novelist, Nikos Kazantzakis.

As Lambridis’ work has only recently started to come to prominence, Christos intended the opera to share it more widely.

Helle, The Opera will explore Lambridis’ legacy through music, poetry and performance.

Athena Leoussi, Christos’ PhD supervisor at the University, said: “Chris made an incredible impression on the University’s research community. He was an original thinker, who embraced learning with genuine curiosity and an open mind.

“He was multi-faceted, combining intellectual enquiry with musical creativity, in a personality that was artistic, alternative, and analytical. We are very sad that he will not be able to witness the performance of the opera that became his swansong, but the show will be a fitting tribute to him.”