An original, two-act opera on the story of Lord Elgin’s removal of the Parthenon Marbles and Greece’s demand for their return will hold its world premiere at the Athens Concert Hall on May 29. The opera, titled Opus Elgin: The Destruction Of Parthenon, was composed by Theodore Stathis and features scenes in both the British Museum and the new Acropolis Museum.

It is part of a broader effort to stage an international discourse on the Parthenon marbles and will also be presented in London during the Olympic Games. The event is organized by Imeros NGO and is held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.

• Send Them Back: The Intelligence² Debate

Did Lord Elgin rescue the Parthenon sculptures or is this kind of argument just crypto-imperialistic talk?

Would their return to Athens set a dangerous precedent for world museums or is this just an excuse for Britain to hold on to dubiously acquired treasures?

All these arguments, as well as many other aspects of the Parthenon marbles debate will be affronted at a debate organized by Intelligence², under the general title Send Them Back. The debate will take place at Cadogan Hall, London on June 11. Actor, writer and comedian Stephen Fry and BBC World News presenter Zeinab Badawi take the affirmative side, while Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto and Labour MP Tristram Hunt will argue against the motion.