Thousands of people flocked to a concert dedicated to the choral works of renowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis at Athens’s emblematic Panathenaic (Kalimarmaro) Stadium.
The 91-year-old composer, who was instrumental in raising global awareness of Greece’s plight during the 1967-74 military dictatorship, was expected to conduct the final piece of the night.
Mikis, who is known throughout the world for his award winning Zorba, arrived in his wheelchair at the concert called “All of Greece for Mikis – 1,000 voices” and watched the show put on by 1,000 choir members from around the country, as well as dozens of musicians and soloists. Mikis, who twice raised from his wheelchair to wave at the crowd, sat next to the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and the President of the Greek Parliament Nikos Voutsis. The concert was organised under the auspices of the Presidency.
The maestro, Panagis Barbatis, a talented musician (and pianist), has arranged works of Mikis Theodorakis for Choir and the symphonic mandolin orchestra.
The concert that also featured the Athenian Mandolinata Orchestra included excerpts from the most important poetic works of the composer; some of which included: “Μικρές Κυκλάδες” (Small Cyclades), “Άξιον Εστί” (Axion Esti), Επιφάνια” (Epiphany), “Όμορφη Πόλη” (Beautiful City), “Archipelagos,” “Πολιτεία” (Politeia), “Λιποτάκτες” (Lipokataktes), “Χαιρετισμοί (Greetings) and “Neighborhood of the Angels.” The actors taking part included Yannis Stankoglu, Ioanna Pappa; the lyric artists Gina Fotinopoulou, Eleni Voudouraki, Antonis Koronaios, Babis Velissarios, Pantelis Kontos and popular singer Gerasimos Andreatos.
The audience, both young and old, experienced some of Theodoraki’s musical masterpieces over his along-spanning career, including “Vrechei sti Ftochogitoneia” and “Sto Perigialli to Kryfo”.
Mikis Theodorakis, is considered one of two greatest composers in Greece, together with Manos Hadjidakis. Mikis was born on 1925, and although now very old and in need of a wheel chair to move, he conducted the finale.