How weird is it that Greece, the cradle of democracy, should be observing the bicentennial of revolution almost a half century after we Americans did so and more than three decades after the French? (But let’s not forget Lord Byron and his efforts to unite Greek factions against their common foe, the Turks.) The Greek National Opera is celebrating in grand style, with numerous world premieres as well as a revival of The Murderess, the acclaimed but grisly magnum opus of the company’s artistic director Giorgos Koumendakis. Silence, The King Is Listening, a children’s musical by Nikos Kypourgos, is receiving a revival, too—or more precisely a new production. Reportedly a riff on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, and also informed by the spirit of our very own John Cage (!), the show has been delighting Greek audiences since 1993 with its portrait of a royal music lover whose court musician’s best efforts consistently fail to please. What to do? Attend, with kids in tow, and find out! —M.G.