GENERAL PROGRAMME
Please see the Academic Programme for full details of the keynote lectures and academic sessions.
Welcome on behalf of the Organizing Committees
Lord Byron was a great believer in being on the spot, not forming impressions or making pronouncements from afar. For this reason and for many others, there’s no more appropriate place to honor Byron than where he traveled to enlist in freedom’s battle. What more suitable tribute than to gather in Greece, where Byron lived his last months, and to stand in Messolonghi at the site of the house where he breathed his last breaths? We are delighted that so many Byronists from all over the world share this feeling, and we welcome you to Athens and Messolonghi for the 48th International Byron Conference, held under the auspices and with the support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
The unfolding conversation of the this conference, with three keynote lectures and presentations by IBC regulars and new voices alike, will reveal and assess many aspects of a famously complex and mobile man and poet. Complementing the scholarly presentations will be a conversation between Byron’s descendants the Earl of Lytton and Lord Byron, the reading and dramatic interpretation of poetry, sung and instrumental music, and visits to notable sites and sights in Athens, Messolonghi, and its surroundings. At the Benaki Museum in Athens we’ll see the iconic Phillips portrait of Byron. In Messolonghi at Byron House we’ll visit the Museum of Lord Byron and Philhellenism to view the new permanent collection “Lord Byron and Philhellenism” along with exhibits of art and photography centered on Byron.
The days of the International Byron Conference will be full and eventful, but we hope that there will also be interludes of relaxation, meditation, and individual exploration, renewal of old friendships and establishment of new ones. If the air of Greece made Byron a poet as he claimed, it’s our earnest hope that it and the events of these shared days of commemoration will inspire all of us in our different ways.
We are grateful to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to the National Historical Museum, to the Governor of Western Greece (PDE), to the Municipality of the Sacred Town of Messolonghi, to the Archeological Museum “Xenokrateion” and to the Messolonghi Byron Society for hosting and supporting the conference.
Rodanthi-Rosa Florou, Chair of the Organizing Committee | Peter Graham, Chair of the Academic Committee
Welcome by the Governor of Western Greece, Mr Nektarios Farmakis
As Governor of Western Greece, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you, a truly international group of Byronists and Philhellenes, to our beautiful and historic region in this bicentennial commemorative year. Your presence does us great honor, and I hope that your time here in this beautiful and interesting part of Greece, where Byron lived the last months of his life will prove pleasant, rewarding, and memorable.
Welcome by the Mayor of the Sacred Town of Messolonghi, Mr Spiridon Diamantopoulos
All Byronists know the name of Messolonghi, where Lord Byron lived and died while devoting his energy, efforts, and resources to the cause of Greek independence. Byron’s heroic presence pervades our town, and I am delighted to welcome you to a place you already know, by reputation or from personal experience. In particular, we in Messolonghi are happy that you’ll view at first hand the cultural treasures of Byron House, the replica of Christos Kapsalis’s mansion and Lord Byron’s last residence, with its Research Center, library, and newly inaugurated Byron Museum containing both permanent and special exhibits. A warm welcome to our town!
Monday 1 July (Athens)
16:00 – 18:00 Hotel TITANIA: registration in the lobby.
19:00 Departure on foot for the Central Building of The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30, Panepistimiou Av.).
19:30 – 21:00 Official Opening Ceremony in the Great Hall with speeches of welcome:
• Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• HE Mr. Matthew Lodge, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Hellenic Republic
• Dr. Olympia Vikatou, Director General of Antiquities and Culture Heritage, Hellenic Ministry of Culture
• Mr. Spiridon Diamantopoulos, Mayor of the Sacred Town of Messolonghi
• Mrs. Rodanthi-Rosa Florou, Chair of the Organizing Committee.
Opening keynote lecture by Dr. Fani Maria Tsigakou: “Ut Pictura Poesis: Byron’s Poetry vs. Byronic Iconography”.
Evening concludes with the song “Long live Messolonghi” performed by Ada Athanasopoulou (soprano).
Tuesday 2 July (Athens)
09:15 Departure on foot for the National Historical Museum of Athens (Old Parliament / Palaia Vouli), 13, Stadiou Str.
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome by the President of the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece / National Historical Museum, Dr. Marietta Minotou.
10:10 – 10:50 Conversation between John Earl of Lytton and Robin Lord Byron, moderated by Professor Peter Graham, Chair of the Academic Committee, and presentation of commemorative plaques to the speakers.
10:50 – 11:10 Βreak.
11:10 – 11:50 Poetry reading, A. E. Stallings and Peter Graham
11:50 – 13:15 Panel A (3 lectures).
13:30 – 15:30 Coach transfer to the Benaki Museum for a reception with light refreshments by courtesy of the British Ambassador, HE Mr. Matthew Lodge. There will be an opportunity to view the famous portrait of Byron by Thomas Phillips, on temporary exhibition at the Museum.
16:00 – 17:00 Coach transfer from the Benaki Museum to the Acropolis Museum to see a small exhibition featuring the Sultan’s firman that allowed Byron to travel freely across the Ottoman Empire. This passport is a unique item of Byron memorabilia that has not been displayed in public before. Also featured is the painting by Louis Joseph Toussaint Rossignon of the blessing before the Exodus of Messolonghi by Bishop Joseph of Rogon (who officiated at Byron’s funeral).
Rest of the day: free.
Wednesday 3 July (Messolonghi)
09:00 Coach transfer to Messolonghi, arrival at approximately noon, to be followed by lunch at the Radiomegaro restaurant and registration at hotels. Please be on board the coach outside the Titania Hotel by 8:30.
16:30 Start of the Academic Programme in Messolonghi at the
Aitoloakarnania Regional Government Building, Amphitheatre (Room A) and Council Chamber (Room B), Kyprou Str.
16:30 Room A:
Welcome address by the Regional Governor of Western Greece Mr. Nektarios Farmakis.
16:30 – 17:45 Room A: PANEL B (3 lectures)
17:45 – 18:00 Coffee break.
18:00 – 19:00 Room A: Keynote lecture 2, by Professor Jane Stabler, St Andrews University, UK.
19:00 – 19:30 Coffee break.
19:30 – 20:30 Recital to mark the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s death. The programme begins with the hymn to Byron written for the 100th anniversary of his death, and continues with arias from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera The Two Foscari as well as an independent Rossini piece dedicated to the death of Lord Byron. Also featured are poems by Byron set to music, including “She Walks In Beauty” and “The Maid of Athens”, and excerpts from the operas Despo and Markos Botsaris by Pavlos Carrer. Performers: Nikolas Karagiaouris (baritone), Chrysanthi Chachoulia (soprano), with Panos Loumakis at the piano.
20:30 – Evening free.
Thursday 4 July (Messolonghi)
09:30 Aitoloakarnania Regional Government Building, Amphitheatre (Room A) and Council Chamber (Room B), Kyprou Str.
9:30 – 10:45 PANEL 1A Room A (3 lectures).
PANEL 1B Room B (3 lectures).
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break.
11:00 – 12:15 PANEL 2A Room A (3 lectures).
PANEL 2B Room B (3 lectures).
12:15 – 12:45 Coffee break.
12:45 – 14:00 PANEL 3A Room A (3 lectures).
PANEL 3B Room B (3 lectures).
14:00 – 14:45 Lunch, Aitoloakarnania Regional Government Building.
14:45 – 16:00 PANEL 4A Room A (3 lectures).
PANEL 4B Room B (3 lectures).
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break.
16:15 – 17:30 Room A: Keynote lecture 3, by Professor Andrew Stauffer, University of Virginia, USA.
17:30 – 18:30 Meeting of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Byron Societies. Anyone not attending this meeting is free to go early to the Byron House.
17:30 – 19:30 Visit to the Byron House, the Headquarters of the Messolonghi Byron Society, to see the Museum of Lord Byron and Philhellenism with its new permanent collections, “Byron and Greece”, a new photographic exhibition of artwork in the Library focused on Byron and entitled “… Then look around, and choose thy Ground, and take thy rest,” and a new exhibition on the staircase, of work by artists from Schools of Fine Arts in Greece, the UK and Romania, entitled “Gazing at portraits of Lord Byron”.
The BYRON HOUSE will be open 10:30 – 13:30 and 18:00 – 20:00 each day of the conference, free of charge for conference participants.
20:00 – 20:45 Cultural event at the Archaeological Museum of Messolonghi, “XENOKRATEION,” in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Aitoloakarnania and Lefkada (Hellenic Ministry of Culture).
• Recitation from Byron’s Don Juan by American actress and PhD student Megan Coates, introduced by David Roessel.
• Concert by Eric Andersen, an American singer-songwriter and poet, who will present songs from his Album “Mingle with the Universe: The Worlds of Lord Byron”, introduced by Gregory Dowling.
21:00 Reception in the garden of the Archaeological Museum of Messolonghi, by courtesy of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Aitoloakarnania and Lefkada and the Messolonghi Byron Society.
Friday 5 July (Messolonghi)
09:30 Aitoloakarnania Regional Government Building, Amphitheatre (Room A) and Council Chamber (Room B), Kyprou Str.
09:30 – 10:45 PANEL 5A Room A (3 lectures).
PANEL 5B Room B (3 lectures).
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break.
11:00 – 12:30 PANEL 6A Room A (4 lectures).
PANEL 6B Room B (4 lectures).
12:30 – 13:30 Annual General Meeting of the International Association of Byron Societies.
13:30 – 14:45 Lunch, Aitoloakarnania Regional Government Building.
14:45 – 16:00 PANEL 7 Room A (3 lectures).
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break.
16:15 – 17:30 CLOSING ROUNDTABLE: “Byron Here, Byron Now”, Room A, with the members of the Academic Committee:
Roderick Beaton, King’s College London and British School at Athens
Peter Graham, Virginia Tech
Stephen Minta, University of York
Naji Oueijan, Notre Dame University, Lebanon
Maria Schoina, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Moderator: Andrew Stauffer, University of Virginia
20:30 Gala dinner at PELADA Restaurant, at the Port of Messolonghi, including Greek folk dances by the Dance Cultural Workshop and live music.
Saturday 6 July (Messolonghi)
10:00 – 10:30 Following Byron’s footsteps in Messolonghi.
Wreath-laying ceremony at the monument newly renovated by the Messolonghi Byron Society on the site where Byron breathed his last on 19 April 1824. Here the University of Athens dedicated a memorial column to commemorate the centennial of Byron’s death.
10:30 – 11:00 Visit to the cathedral of St. Spyridon, visited by Byron and where his lungs were kept in a silver box until 1881. Since 1881 the silver relic box has been interred under the foundation of his marble statue in the Garden of Heroes.
11:00 – 11:30 Visit to the Municipal Museum of History and Municipal Art Gallery.
11:30 – 12:30. Visit to the Garden of Heroes. Stretching alongside the defensive walls of Messolonghi, an extensive memorial garden with many monuments dedicated to Greek fighters and to Philhellenes who fought and fell during the siege and the Exodus (Sortie) of April 1826. At the center of the Garden of Heroes you will find the grave of Markos Botzaris as well as a statue of Lord Byron, underneath which are buried the poet’s lungs.
12:30 – 13:00. Visit to the Chapel of Panayia Finikias, the island chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Palm Tree, where Byron used to ride at sunset from Messolonghi and where he fell ill in heavy rain on 10 April 1824.
13:00 – 14:00. Visit to the Salt Museum at Tourlida, the only salt museum in Greece. Visitors can learn everything there is related to salt, from its first appearance in the world up until today. The museum is next to the salt mine of Tourlida, where there are also restaurants for lunch and a swimming beach.
14:00 – Free.
20:30 Farewell reception outside the Byron House with wine and buffet provided by The Byron Society (London) and the Messolonghi Byron Society’s Museum and Research Center will be open throughout the evening for a last glance at its collections.
The colours of sunset behind the Messolonghi lagoon will leave us with magical memories.
Sunday 7 July (Messolonghi)
Transfer by coach for those participants who have pre-booked from Messolonghi (Liberty Hotel) direct to Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Athens, departing at 09:00, arriving at approximately 12 noon, and then continuing for a final stop in the centre of Athens at the TITANIA Hotel.
– Note on meals. All meals and receptions listed above are included in the registration fee and some are by courtesy of the sponsors named. Listed ‘coffee breaks’ include tea, coffee, pastries, sweets, and light refreshments.
In Athens, no meals are included other than the reception at the Benaki Museum, offered by the British Ambassador, HE Mr. Matthew Lodge, and it will not be possible to serve refreshments during the break on 2 July.
Acknowledgements
The Messolonghi Byron Society and the Academic and Organizing Committees of the 48th International Byron Conference hereby express their sincerest thanks to the following institutions and sponsors whose generous support has made this conference possible:
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture
The Region of Western Greece
The Municipality of the Sacred City of Messolonghi
The British Embassy, Athens
The Byron
Society (London)
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Aitoloakarnania and Lefkada (Hellenic Ministry of Culture)
Centiva Software Solutions (for the Byron Conference website)
and also the following individuals who have generously assisted the Organizing Committee with local social events: the conductor Mr. Spyros Cholevas, the soprano Ms. Ada Athanasopoulou, the Director of the Public School S.A.E.K, Dr. Yiannis Chatzis, Mrs. Marina Kassaveti, Ms. Maria Karatzogiani, Mrs. Panagiota Saraganida, Ms. Maria Poulaki, Mrs. Mimika Gavrina, Mrs. Doly Avdi, Mrs. Karerina Salma, Mr. Giorgos Lytras, the Dance Cultural Workshop (Χορευτικό Πολιτιστικό Εργαστήρι).