Photos of last season at Athens' Odeon of Herod Atticus theater before it closes for restoration

By THANASSIS STAVRAKIS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek National Opera opened this season’s festival with Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot as Athens’ ancient theater hosts its final festival season before it shuts down for at least three years for restoration and maintenance.

The Odeon of Herod Atticus, a must-see at the foot of the Acropolis, recently opened the 70th season of the annual Athens Epidaurus Festival, a cherished annual tradition for many Greeks.

The closure of the theater, which is more than 18 centuries old, will be a profound loss for spectators who have long enjoyed first-class performances under the stars in one of the world’s most iconic open-air theaters.

Tourists watch the ushers as they prepare the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Tourists watch the ushers as they prepare the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Dancers warm up at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" by the Greek National Opera under the ancient Acropolis hill during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Dancers warm up at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” by the Greek National Opera under the ancient Acropolis hill during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greek National Opera's Artistic Director, Giorgos Koumendakis poses ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Greek National Opera’s Artistic Director, Giorgos Koumendakis poses ahead of the dress rehearsal of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Artistic Director Katerina Evangelatos of Athens Epidaurus Festival poses in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Spectators wait to enter the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" premiere by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Spectators wait to enter the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” premiere by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greek National Opera musician Neoklis Aravantinos plays his bass trombone ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" premiere during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Greek National Opera musician Neoklis Aravantinos plays his bass trombone ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” premiere during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two harpists of the Greek National Opera Ersilia Mikrou, left, and Anna Dermani watch the spectators taking their seats at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" dress rehearsal during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — The two harpists of the Greek National Opera Ersilia Mikrou, left, and Anna Dermani watch the spectators taking their seats at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” dress rehearsal during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Performers of the Greek National Opera Denia Mimerini, center, and Nikos Egglezos, left, prepare ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Performers of the Greek National Opera Denia Mimerini, center, and Nikos Egglezos, left, prepare ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Tenor Nikos Stefanou gets his make-up ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" performance during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Tenor Nikos Stefanou gets his make-up ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” performance during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Dancers Anastasia Valsamaki, left, and Antonia Oikonomou, right, prepare ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" performance by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Dancers Anastasia Valsamaki, left, and Antonia Oikonomou, right, prepare ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” performance by the Greek National Opera during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Ushers help spectators taking their seats at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" dress rehearsal during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Ushers help spectators taking their seats at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ahead of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” dress rehearsal during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

People walk outside the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" performance by the Greek National Opera part of the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — People walk outside the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” performance by the Greek National Opera part of the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Performers take part in Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" dress rehearsal by the Greek National Opera at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Performers take part in Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” dress rehearsal by the Greek National Opera at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Performers and musicians take part in Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" dress rehearsal by the Greek National Opera at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Performers and musicians take part in Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” dress rehearsal by the Greek National Opera at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Performer Denia Mimerini of the Greek National Opera plays at Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Performer Denia Mimerini of the Greek National Opera plays at Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Performers of the Greek National Opera play Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Performers of the Greek National Opera play Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Spectators wait for Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" premiere by the Greek National Opera athe Odeon of Herodes Atticus under the ancient Acropolis hill during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) — Spectators wait for Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” premiere by the Greek National Opera athe Odeon of Herodes Atticus under the ancient Acropolis hill during the 70th Athens Epidaurus Festival in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Photos of last season at Athens’ Odeon of Herod Atticus theater before it closes for restoration