logo

QPAC

Accessibility Tools
  • What's On
    • All Events
    • Accessible Performances
    • Out of the Box Festival
    • First Nations
    • Digital Stage
    • For Schools
    • Backstage Tours
    • Festivals & Seasons
    • Gift Ideas
  • Visit
    • Eat & Drink
    • Getting Here
    • Accessibility
    • Our Theatres & Spaces
    • Traffic Updates & Notices
  • Engage
    • First Nations Art
    • For Schools
    • Projects & Events
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Community Support Program
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy
    • Supporters
    • Partnerships
    • Gifts in Wills
    • Membership
  • Secondary Links
    • My Account
    • Newsroom
    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • About Us
    • Venue Hire
    • Functions
    • Working with Us
Stay up to date with QPAC news. Subscribe to QPAC emails.
QPAC logo
Queensland Government emblem

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples, towards creating a better Queensland.

  • …
  • What’s On
  • 2024
  • Axion Esti and Masterworks
Axion Esti – ‘Worthy It Is’
  • World Music
  • Classical Music

axionesti24 Axion Esti and Masterworks QPAC World Music, Classical Music Axion Esti and Masterworks

5 Jun 2024, 7pm
Concert Hall
  • 'Opa’ Exclusive Offer

    Dinner and a show?
    Experience Greek-infused dining at QPAC’s Lyrebird, Pop-Up Café, and bars from 5 to 8 June to celebrate our Axion Esti and Masterworks concert honouring Mikis Theodorakis, Greece’s revered composer.

    Find out more about out dining options here!

Buy Tickets
$89 - $95 *
* A transaction fee of $7.20 applies.
2 hours
including interval, subject to change without notice

Overview

Celebrating 100 years of Mikis Theodorakis – Greece’s most revered composer

FEATURING
International artist Dimitris Basis and conductor George Ellis
Together with cantor George Karantonis and narrator Tony Nikolakopoulos
A 35-piece orchestra and a 90-voice choir

Witness a breathtaking celebration of the works of composer Mikis Theodorakis and Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis in Axion Esti and Masterworks.

This remarkable concert event will showcase the talent of international vocalist Dimitris Basis, acclaimed Greek Australian conductor George Ellis, Cantor George Karantonis, Greek Australian actor Tony Nikolakopoulos in the role of narrator, and a 90-voice choir comprised of members of the QPAC Chamber, GOC Care Fones and Ellinikes Fones Junior and Senior Choirs.

Odysseas Elytis’ (1911-1996) landmark work, Axion Esti (1959) was set to music by Mikis Theodorakis and became a widely-celebrated anthem. Combining suffering and passion, spiritual lessons and poetic power, Axion Esti – widely held to be Elytis’ masterpiece – won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1960.

Mikis Theodorakis – composer of the legendary Zorba’s Dance – is Greece’s most celebrated composer. He has written more than 1,000 songs and song-cycles whose melodies have become intrinsically linked with the heritage of Greek music. This unique event honours his legacy and celebrates the sheer musical beauty and timelessness of his masterwork compositions.

The first half of this concert event is a classical tribute to Axion Esti – performed by a specially formed 90-voice choir comprised of members of the QPAC Chamber Choir and three Greek Community Choirs: Ellinikes Fones, Ellinikes Fones Junior and GOC Care Fones and 35-piece symphony orchestra – with the second half dedicated to Theodorakis’ most famous folk melodies including Ena To Helidoni (A Solitary Swallow) and Tis Dikeosinis Ilie (Sun of Justice).

“Please don’t, please don’t forget my homeland...”

Learn more about Axion Esti here [PDF 75KB]

Important Information

Celebrate 40 Years of QPAC and Win!

Purchase a ticket at QPAC in 2025 and go in the draw to win a Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid, thanks to Hyundai – proud Principal Partner of QPAC.

To enter the competition, submit an entry form via the QPAC 40 Giveaway competition page. Terms and conditions apply.

Concert Hall Access Guide

The Concert Hall access guide [PDF, 5MB] provides information on what you can expect while visiting QPAC.

Official ticketing service for QPAC

QTIX is our official ticketing service with selected packages sold through authorised resellers only. Read more about purchasing tickets online.

Concession

Children 3 to 15 years, Full-Time Students, Pension and Companion card holders. 

Four Ticket Offer

Great discounts available for groups of 4+.
Available in B-Reserve only. 
Must purchase four or more tickets within the one transaction and select ‘Groups 4+’ in your basket from the drop-down option.

Great discounts available for groups of 10+.

A-Reserve $65

Make a group booking

Book your school group and receive assistance with available seating allocation.

Make a school booking

Gallery

  • Dimitris Basis
  • George Ellis
  • George Karantonis
  • Tony Nikolakopoulos
  • Dimitris Basis

Featuring

  • International Vocalist Dimitris Basis
  • Director & Conductor George Ellis
  • Cantor George Karantonis
  • Director Greek Band George Doukas
  • Choir Master Timothy Sherlock
  • Narrator Tony Nikolakopoulos
  • Assistant Choir Master Christina Xydi-Lignos
  • Choir QPAC Chamber Choir
  • Choir Ellinikes Fones
  • Choir Ellinikes Fones – Junior Choir
  • Choir GOC Care Choir Fones

You may also like

  • QSO Beethoven & Brahms

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Beethoven & Brahms

    13 - 14 Jun 2025
    Concert Hall

    Enjoy Brahm’s concerto that’ll bring down the house and Beethoven’s rip-roaring 5th Symphony.

  • QSO Cello Dreams

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Cello Dreams

    29 Jun 2025, 11:30am
    Concert Hall

    ​It’s dramatic, it’s angst-ridden, it’s thrilling. And Beethoven’s Egmont Overture is just the beginning.

  • Unleashed

    Australian Chamber Orchestra ACO Unleashed

    30 Jun 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Celebrating 50 years of virtuosity and brilliance with music by Bach, Beethoven, Ravel, Schubert and Kuusisto.

  • Sjaella – Among the BranchesPhoto by Lara Müller

    Sjaella – Among the Branches

    10 Jul 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Renowned for their mesmerising and crystal-clear singing, don’t miss German a cappella ensemble, Sjaella at their QPAC debut!

  • Beethoven & Strauss

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Beethoven & Strauss

    11 - 12 Jul 2025
    Concert Hall

    Feel free to contemplate the meaning of life when you listen to the triumphant tones of Beethoven and Strauss.

  • QSO Brief Encounter in Concert

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Brief Encounter in Concert

    19 Jul 2025, 1:30pm
    Concert Hall

    The perfect date night, experience one of the greatest romantic films of
    all time on the big screen with a live symphony orchestra.

  • QSO The Royal Organist

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra The Royal Organist

    26 - 27 Jul 2025
    Concert Hall

    For those who stare at the empty grand organ atop the QPAC Concert Hall, we have a concert just for you!

  • WataImage by Sarah Walker

    Clancestry Wata

    31 Jul 2025, 7:30pm
    Concert Hall

    Experience a new form of musical collaboration with Wata, an exciting celebration of the musical traditions of the Wagiluk people.

  • Circa & The Art of Fugue

    Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Circa & The Art of Fugue

    5 Aug 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    This extraordinary multi-artform experience combines Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Art of Fugue with contemporary acrobatics.

  • QSO Lior & Westlake

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Lior & Westlake

    9 Aug 2025, 1:30pm & 7:30pm
    Concert Hall

    Experience Lior & Westlake's resonant song cycle sourced from ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, which became an ARIA Award-winning classical album.

  • Voices of Birralee

    Voices of Birralee 30th Anniversary Celebration

    17 Aug 2025, 3:30pm
    Concert Hall

    Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of choral music as we commemorate three decades of musical achievement and community impact.

  • Gershwin & Shostakovich

    Australian Chamber Orchestra Gershwin & Shostakovich

    18 Aug 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    A celebration of the power of music featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.1 with superstar pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk.

  • Musica Viva Australia Takács Quartet with Angie Milliken

    Musica Viva Australia Takács Quartet with Angie Milliken

    20 Aug 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    The undimmed brilliance of the Takács Quartet shines through masterpieces by Beethoven and Haydn framing a new commission from Australian composer Cathy Milliken.

  • Ensemble Q A Poet’s Love

    Ensemble Q A Poet’s Love

    25 Aug 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Ensemble Q present a program full of love, poetry and beauty, with a twist.

  • William Yang: Milestone

    Brisbane Festival William Yang: Milestone

    9 Sep 2025, 7:30pm
    Concert Hall
    One of Australia’s most revered visual and performance artists, William Yang, reflects on his remarkable life set against Elena Kats-Chernin’s haunting score.
  • Camerata: Your Eternal Memories

    Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra Camerata: Your Eternal Memories

    13 Sep 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Eternal memories, words, and music will weave together in this concert that is sure to be moving, nostalgic, and hopefully, a little bit funny.

  • Ray Chen in Recital

    Ray Chen in Recital

    14 Sep 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Experience the brilliance of a true violin virtuoso, Ray Chen, in this intimate one-night-only recital.

  • A Musical Awakening

    Australian Chamber Orchestra A Musical Awakening

    15 Sep 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    The music of Beethoven, Peteris Vasks and Max Richter centres this exploration of music’s ability to nurture, heal and nourish.

  • Shostakovich Ten

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Shostakovich Ten

    19 - 20 Sep 2025
    Concert Hall

    Rebellion and revolution abound as two composers grapple with the terror and turmoil of the 20th century.

  • The Man From Snowy River in Concert

    The Man From Snowy River in Concert

    27 - 28 Sep 2025
    Concert Hall

    Final show just added! Experience this classic Australian film in a new light as the Southern Cross Symphony perform the award-winning score live to the film.

  • QSO Verdi Requiem

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Verdi Requiem

    3 - 4 Oct 2025
    Concert Hall

    Umberto Clerici and Queensland Symphony Orchestra present Verdi Requiem, a mammoth vocal event in 2025.

  • The Tallis Scholars Chant

    The Tallis Scholars – Chant

    10 Oct 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    The Tallis Scholars will present a superbly curated program inspired by Gregorian chant.

  • Southern Cross Soloists – Wonder

    Southern Cross Soloists Wonder

    12 Oct 2025, 3pm
    Concert Hall

    Experience Felix Mendelssohn’s magical chords as the Southern Cross Soloists transport you to a wonderland of elves, fairies, lovers and a donkey. 

  • QSO Franck & Ravel

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Franck & Ravel

    17 - 18 Oct 2025
    Concert Hall

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra bring to life the music of French musicians Maurice Ravel and Cesar Franck.

  • QSO Cinematic: The Oscars

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Cinematic: The Oscars

    24 - 25 Oct 2025
    Concert Hall

    Lights, Camera, Action! Cinematic is back for a sixth year of film favourites.

  • QSO Northern Lights, Southern Stars

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Northern Lights, Southern Stars

    26 Oct 2025, 11:30am
    Concert Hall

    Witness two rising superstars and a program of operatic hits.

  • Mountain

    Australian Chamber Orchestra Mountain

    27 Oct 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    The ACO are bringing back one of their most groundbreaking, award-winning and popular cinematic collaborations for a series of limited gala performances.

  • QYO Finale

    Queensland Youth Symphony QYO Finale

    2 Nov 2025, 3pm & 7pm
    Concert Hall

    The QYO Finale concert is the crowning celebration of a remarkable year of dedication and artistry by the talented musicians of QYO.

  • Cocteau’s Circle

    Australian Chamber Orchestra Cocteau’s Circle

    10 Nov 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    Join the Australian Chamber Orchestra on an adventure to Paris as they close their 50th Anniversary National Concert Season with a night of celebration and surprise.

  • Camerata & One Equal Music: Celestial Choral Baroque

    Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra Camerata & One Equal Music: Celestial Choral Baroque

    20 Nov 2025, 7pm
    Concert Hall

    An otherworldly collaboration with one of Australia’s newest choirs, expect to be uplifted with this achingly beautiful music, both old and new.

  • QSO Mahler Nine

    Queensland Symphony Orchestra Mahler Nine

    28 - 29 Nov 2025
    Concert Hall

    Take the journey with us, and together we’ll venture towards the bittersweet conclusion of Mahler’s memorable Ninth.

  • Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra Heartstrings

    Rent Now
    Digital Stage

    A captivating musical journey featuring Frank Martin, Tchaikovsky, Jessie Montgomery, and Copland.

  • Ensemble Q Deep Blue

    Rent Now
    Digital Stage

    Dive into the immersive world of the ocean with Ensemble Q's Deep Blue, where musicians perform in black clothing, under blue light, creating an underwater ambiance.

  • Ensemble Q The Dinner Party

    Rent Now
    Digital Stage

    Ensemble Q showcases the clash between deep romanticism and atonality through works by Webern, Berg, Schoenberg, Puccini, and Mahler.

  • Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra From My Homeland by Camerata

    Rent Now
    Digital Stage

    Immerse in evocative Australian music with William Barton & Véronique Serret. Camerata's performance celebrates our connection to place and unique stories.

  • Ensemble Q Fish, Chips & Warm Beer

    Rent Now
    Digital Stage

    Ensemble Q’s Fish, Chips & Warm Beer explores a selection of masterpieces by heroes of British music.

Stay up to date with QPAC news. Subscribe to QPAC emails.
  • 136 246
  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
QPAC logo
Queensland Government emblem

Principal Partner

© 2025 Queensland Performing Arts Trust. All rights reserved.