The Serene Charm of Greece’s Sikinos
Categories:
A concert to commemorate Mikis Theodorakis’ 100th birth anniversary filled the Kallimarmaro Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on Wednesday night.
People of all ages gathered to honor the legendary composer, frequently joining in as a massive choir to accompany the artists on stage.
Mikis Theodorakis produced a staggering number of musical works, encompassing both symphonic music and, most predominantly, Greek folk music from which he drew most of his inspiration, making it famous the world over.
His ability to compose music that conveyed emotion and struggle is perhaps best displayed in his composition “The Ballad of Mauthausen.” This music has been described as one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written about the Holocaust.
The legacy that the incomparable Theodorakis left behind is not only that of the greatest Greek composer of all time but also that of a visionary humanitarian. Starting out as a socialist, in his later years, he tried to unite all Greek people regardless of their political affiliation.
The concert was organized by the Communist Party (KKE) and the family of Theodorakis, who was born on the island of Chios on July 29, 1925.
A resounding call for “Freedom in Palestine!” vibrated throughout the stadium. The crowd, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans, unequivocally expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
A particularly poignant moment came when singers Dionysis Tsaknis and Pantelis Thalassinos performed “There Were Once Two Friends,” a song whose music Mikis Theodorakis had once envisioned as the future anthem for a free and independent Palestine.
The visual impact was equally strong. As the slogan for Palestinian freedom echoed, screens displayed powerful images of Yasser Arafat and Yiannis Ritsos, both wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh. The audience responded by waving their own keffiyehs and Palestinian flags, while hundreds of young people on a platform proudly held placards adorned with the Palestinian flag.
The concert featured a diverse array of performers, representing all generations of Greek song, along with artists deeply associated with Theodorakis’s work.
The stellar lineup of performers included Vassilis Papakonstantinou, whose unique renditions of “Omorfi poli” and “Sfageio” were met with fervent applause.
Giorgos Dalaras, describing Mikis Theodorakis as “a father and teacher” who “never left our side” for the family of musicians, delivered powerful performances of “Anoigo to stoma mou” and “Sopa opou nan’nai tha simanun oi kambanes.”
Manolis Mitsias performing “Drapetsona”
Maria Farantouri, taking the stage, recalled Theodorakis’s impactful words: “all of us should fight to transform the arms industry into an industry of peace and culture.” Farantouri captivated the audience with her renditions of “Gelasto paidi,” “Poios ti zoi mou,” “Ligo akoma,” and “Lambri.”
The concert culminated with all performers joining together on stage for a moving rendition of “Tis dikaiosynis ilie noite.” The evening concluded with poignant film footage of Mikis Theodorakis himself performing “Edo sopainoun ta poulia” and “Tin Romiosini mi tin kles”, leaving the audience with a lasting impression of his enduring legacy.
