Varia

Echoes from News Agencies (V): 1995 & 1996

picked up in the Internet

Theodorakis honored by OTE

Athens, 12/07/1996 (ANA)

Popular composer Mikis Theodorakis was honored by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization's (OTE) administration yesterday, while OTE will dedicate the first phonecard in the series "Personalities of the 20th century" to the internationally renowned artist. OTE managing director Petros Lambrou said the event organized for Mr. Theodorakis was only a small tribute for what he had given to Hellenism with his music and struggles.

Mr. Theodorakis said his music was addressed to the people, and for this reason the introduction of his works on the worldwide computer web Internet was discussed.

GREEK MUSIC CONCERT TO HONOR OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATLANTA

Macedonian Press Agency, Thessaloniki, June 18 and June 21, 1996

The two Greek cultural events at this summer's Olympic Games in Atlanta will be a concert by the National Orchestra of Greece three days before the opening of the Games and the exhibition "Spirit and Body" which recently departed for the centennial anniversary of the modern Olympics.

The concert is scheduled to be held at Atlanta's Symphony Hall with singer mezzo soprano Agnes Baltsa as the lead vocalist and noted composer Stavros Xarhakos directing. Works from Greece's most famous composers will be performed, among which will be pieces written by Mikis Theodorakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Manos Hatzidakis and Xarhakos.

Santer stresses role for cities, local authorities in combating unemployment

Athens 23/05/1996 (ANA)

European Commission President Jacques Santer last night called on a joint effort by both public and private agencies to confront Europe's ever-growing number of unemployed, in his keynote address to more than a thousand EU mayors and regional officials in Thessaloniki for their annual general assembly. Mr. Santer said the "threat of social unrest which is directly felt in cities and regions" had its roots "in the acute problem of unemployment - there are 18 million unemployed in the EU - the phenomena of exclusion and discrimination, the resurgence of extreme nationalism and threats to the environment."

Referring to the European employment pact implemented last January, he said it aimed at jointly mobilising all agencies and that our "major strategy for the future will only acquire a meaning if we apply ourselves dynamically to the problem of employment."

The European Commission could not replace local officials or governments in this effort, Mr. Santer said. "This employment pact does not constitute a specious way of placing the principle of subsidiarity in doubt. On the contrary, it is a dynamic implementation of subsidiarity and I call on you to participate. It would be a mistaken interpretation of subsidiarity if we were to transfer our responsibi lities to each other," he added.

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, speaking on behalf of the government, referred to a 'social Europe' and stressed the need to coordinate economic and social policies. "In the framework of the inter-governmental conference (IGC) in 1996, there should be positive social action which should include the creation of a capital fund for employment and its linkage with Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said. "The greatest (possible) cohesion and the greatest (possible) expression of unity is in the interests of the European Union and the other European countries and this is what has to be consolidated by the IGC," he added.

Athens mayor and Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) President Dimitris Avramopoulos said it was significant that municipal leaders should meet in Greece to discuss and negotiate issues concerning a corporate democracy which were first discussed in ancient G reece thousands of years ago. "A substantive part of local self-administration in the new course set out by European history is to help see that every European, and particularly the young one, will escape the cold of isolation which is being proposed as the new way of life," he added.

On his part, Thessaloniki mayor Constantine Kosmopoulos said the northern Greek capital was a geographic and cultural centre and a crossroads between East and West.

A reception was given last night in honour of Mr. Santer and the municipal leaders, which was followed by a performance of the work "Zorba" by popular Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. The assembly's work will continue today and will end on Saturday.

Cosmos News 1996/05/25

Theodorakis in the running for UNESCO award

Athens, 04/04/1996 (ANA)

The culture ministry has nominated composer Mikis Theodorakis for this year's UNESCO's music award.

Mr. Theodorakis' candidacy was proposed by Culture Minister Stavros Benos and submitted by the Greek ambassador at UNESCO, Vassilis Vassilikos.

An announcement said Mikis Theodorakis' work "contributes to the enrichment and development of music, serves peace and understanding between peoples, serves international solidarity and human rights in the framework of proclamations contained in the UN' s charter and, consequently, meets all conditions for receiving the honorary distinction."

Il "poeta dell'Egeo"

La scomparsa di Odisseus Elitis, lo scrittore greco che vinse il Premio Nobel per la letteratura nel 1979.

Paolo Petroni - Wednesday, March 20th, 1996 - Corriere del Ticino (Switzerland)

Il poeta greco Odisseus Elitis, Premio Nobel per la Letteratura nel 1979, e morto lunedi 18.3.96 ad Atene. Era nato nel 1911. Elitis, che a novembre avrebbe compiuto 86 anni, era nato a Heraklion, nell'isola di Creta. Elitis aveva studiato legge ad Atene e letteratura alla Sorbona di Parigi. In passato e stato presidente della radio e della TV nazionali e del teatro nazionale. Le sue prime poesie furono pubblicate nel 1935, e da allora ha scritto numerose opere tradotte nelle principali lingue del mondo. Il suo poema piu famoso e "Axion Esti", qualcosa come "e bello" o "e degno", publicato nel 1959 dopo quattro anni di lavoro e poi messo in musica da Mikis Theodorakis.

"La poesia di Odysseus Elitis, attingendo al fondo della tradizione ellenica, mette in scena, con sensualita potente et lucida intelligenza, la lotta di un uomo moderno per la liberta e l'attivita creatrice".

Con questa motivazione nel 1979 venne conferito al poeta greco scomparso a 85 anni il Nobel per la letteratura, che per la seconda volta, dopo Giorgios Seferis, ando alla letteratura greca le cui antichissime radici sono le stesse di tutta la cultura occidentale.

Lo stesso Elitis (o Elytis), nato a Creta il 2 novembre 1911, appresa la notizia del premio sottolineo valore e senso "della tradizione che dai tempi di Omero arriva ai nostri giorni con una continuita che ha un suo posto preciso nel sistema della cultura occidentale".

Un richiamo al passato importante perche Elitis, nel panorama della letteratura greca d'oggi (o neogreca, come viene chiamata) occupa un posto che non puo certo dirsi di conservazione, ma che lui stesso non vede come rottura. Anche se i suoi esordi apparvero rivoluzionari e trovarono forti opposizioni anche ironiche. La lezione surrealista francese trovava in lui una impetuosita dirompente proprio nella fusione con suggestione, climi e realta spirituale del suo paese.

Nobel Laureate, Elytis, Dies at 85

Albanian Times, Vol. 2, No. 12, March 25, 1996

ATHENS, March 18 - Odysseus Elytis, the Greek Nobel laureate poet died Monday at his home in Athens. He was 85. Elytis's poems, hugely popular in Greece, were set to music by composer Mikis Theodorakis. The musical versions turned him into a national icon and are often sung by everyday Greeks at tavernas or coffee houses. One of the most popular poems, "To Axion Esti,'' includes long prose passages describing his time as a young officer fighting invading Italian fascist troops on the Albanian front in 1940. (Courtesy of Reuters)

Mikis Theodorakis received France's Legion of Honor medal

AP Worldstream

March 14, 1996; Thursday

Acclaimed Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis on Thursday received France's Legion of Honor medal for his contributions to music and freedom.

He received the honor from envoy Bernard Kessejian in a ceremony held at the French embassy here.

A prolific composer the 71-year-old Theodorakis is best known abroad for his catchy songs and the film score for ''Zorba the Greek.'' He has written music for dozens of other films, for stage productions of ancient Greek tragedy as well as elaborate orchestral works such as his setting of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's Canto General.

A lifelong communist who later supported and became a minister in the conservative government that ran Greece from 1991 to 1993, Theodorakis dropped out of active politics in the past couple of years but still gives concerts around the world.

In 1964 Theodorakis was first elected to Parliament with the United Democratic Left, a front for the then outlawed Greek Communist Party. During the 1967-74 military dictatorship he was jailed and then exiled. The military regime banned his music.

Theodorakis was elected to Parliament again on the Communist ticket in 1981 and 1985.

DECLARATION OF PEACE BY GREEK AND TURKISH INTELLECTUALS

Macedonian Press Agency, February 8, 1996

Peace and Friendship declaration signed by distinguished greek and turkish intellectuals with great influence in politics will be submitted to UNESCO in London and Paris in order to be included in the international organization's "Peace and Culture" programme.

The content of the declaration will be made public on Monday as it was announced by turkish music composer Zulfi Livaneli during a telephone conversation he had last night with his greek colleague Mikis Theodorakis which was broadcasted live in the turkish state television TRT1.

Theodorakis presents autobiography

Athens, 12/01/1996 (ANA)

The fifth volume of Miki Theodorakis' book "The roads of the Archangel" was presented yesterday at the National Art Gallery by the Kedros publishing house.

The presentation was made by close friends and associates of the renowned Greek composer.

Entitled "Mikis Theodorakis - The roads of the Archangel - autobiography - The end of the Myth", the work recalls adventures of post-war Greece, seen from within music and left-wing politics.

Vartholomeos conducts mass at Notre Dame

Paris, 06/11/1995 (ANA - J. Zitouniati)

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos yesterday officiated an Orthodox vespers at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral in the presence of the Catholic Archbishop of Paris Jean-Marie Lustigier.

Welcoming the Patriarch, Mgr. Lustigier said it was "one of the most important moments of the convergence of Churches."

"The steps towards the unity of Churches continue with today's mess at the Notre Dame," he said.

Patriarch Vartholomeos in his response said the vespers was a proof of the improvement of relations between the churches of East and West.

Earlier, Mgr. Lustigier hosted an official dinner for the Patriarch.

On Saturday, a Byzantine music concert was held at the Saint Sulpice church, on the occasion of Patriarch Vartholomeos' visit to France. The event, which featured three choirs, one Greek, one Russian, and one Arabic, was attended by a crowd of 3,000, including Greek Education Minister George Papandreou.

An honorary committee for the event included former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, Hellenistic scholar Jacqueline de Romilly, academician Jean d' Ormesson, philosopher Edgard Morin, president of the College of Europe Eleni Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, composer Mikis Theodorakis, director Costa Gavras, singer Nana Mouskouri, and other prominent French historians and scholars of Byzantine culture.

Theodorakis to perform in Australia

Melbourne, 11/10/1995 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

Acclaimed Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis will give a series of concerts in Australia, in the framework of International Year of Tolerance, it was announced yesterday.

Mr. Theodorakis' concerts will be held under the auspices of the Australian government. He will perform in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the capital, Canberra, from November 17-24.

"The music of Mr. Theodorakis is proof of acceptance and understanding. It is the cornerstone of tolerance," Federal Minister for Immigration Nick Bolkus said.

The 70-year-old composer will be accompanied on his tour by singer Maria Farantouri and a 30-member orchestra.

Mikis Theodorakis, Greek communist and composer turns 70

By Hildegard Huelsenbeck
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 28, 1995, Friday, BC Cycle

Is he more of a communist than a composer, a politician or a musician?

Mikis Theodorakis, the Greek political activist and creator of symphonies turns 70 on Saturday July 29.

He has recently gone back to living in Paris and dedicated himself to his music.

His years in Greece, apart from childhood, were mainly marked by politics. Theodorakis was known worldwide during the military dictatorship in Greece for his political and musical struggle against the junta and for songs which captivated young people. "I was always a guest in the political arena, I was never a professional politician and never immersed myself in politics," he said modestly.

The composer's career contradicts this.

Mikis Theodorakis was born in 1925 on the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea. He spent his childhood in Lesbos, Cephalonia, and in Pyrgos, Patras and Tripolis before going on to study at the Athens conservatorium. In 1943, Theodorakis opposed Nazi German occupation with political texts and songs. During the civil war which followed he was jailed and deported to a internment camp on Makronissos island where he was maltreated. He was let out in August 1949 following serious illness. Theodorakis then devoted himself to music, composing many important works. In 1953, Theodorakis went to Paris and studied with French composer Olivier Messiaen. He composed many successful songs in Paris.

"Here I am at home. Here I wrote the 'Axion Asti', 'The song of the dead brother' the 'Canto General', my symphonies and the 'Requiem', he said. Theodorakis returned to Greece in 1961 and immediately founded a leftist youth movement. He was again arrested in 1967 following the colonels' coup. Shortly before that he had composed the music for the film "Zorba the Greek"; and the Palestinian hymn "Ballad of Mauthausen". Both works earned him international acclaim.

Theodorakis, who became the symbol of resistance against the junta, was released from jail and torture in 1970 following the international pressure. Theodorakis again went to Paris but returned two years later to Greece and began to blow hot and cold politically, swinging between communism and more conservative views. At times he was loyal to Moscow, then he became a moderate socialist, campaigned for one party or another and even held ministerial posts. But he was never considered an opportunist. On the contrary, he always swam against the tide. The swaying from one camp to another was so extreme that people stopped taking him seriously.

Mikis Theodorakis failed as a politician and finally bowed out of politics three years ago. But he remained in the limelight using the respite from politics to compose, go on tour and sing.

Theodorakis is currently writing "Antigone", his third opera, in Paris and preparing for a tour with the Greek singer Maria Farantouri during which he plans to sing half of the programme himself. "I have got to where I always wanted to be. I want to show the unity of music," he said.

The Greek composer will perform in Australia and China in October and November before going to central Europe in December and then to America. In between he plans to make some recordings, including those of Greek folk songs.

Mikis Theodorakis wird 70 Jahre alt

Deutsche Presse-Agentur 29. 7.1995

Kommunist, Komponist, politischer Häftling, gefeierter Musiker: Mikis Theodorakis wird heute 70 Jahre alt. Er hat in seinem Leben schon viele Rollen gespielt. In der letzten Zeit wohnt er wieder in Paris, verschreibt sich wieder ganz seiner Musik. Die Jahre, die er in Griechenland gelebt hat, waren vorwiegend von der Politik gezeichnet. Theodorakis, der während der griechischen Militärdiktatur durch seinen musikalischen und politischen Kampf gegen die Obristen weltweit bekannt geworden ist, sagt heute: "In der Politik war ich immer ein Gast. Ich war nie ein Berufspolitiker, ich bin nie in die Politik eingetaucht." Er schreibt in Paris seine dritte Oper "Antigone". Er bereitet eine Tournee mit der griechischen Sängerin Maria Farantouri vor, bei der er die Hälfte des Programms selbst singen will. Im Oktober und November will er in Australien und China auftreten.

dpa

Distinguished Greek personalities to be recognised by Stephanopoulos

Athens, 15/07/1995 (ANA)

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos announced yesterday the awarding of honorary distinctions to several noted Greek personalities for their contributions to the arts and letters, on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, on July 24.

Distinctions will be awarded among others to Antonis Samarakis (literature), Dido Sotiriou (literature), Takis (art-sculpture), Agnes Baltsa (music), Mikis Theodorakis (music), Irini Pappa (theatre), Anna Sinodinou (theatre), Michalis Kakogiannis (film), Nikos Koundouros (film), Costas Gavras (film), Thodoros Angelopoulos (film) and Spyros Meletzis (photography).

Hellenic Literature Society-May

May 20 * New York, NY

The Metropolitan Greek Chorale 30th anniversary gala concert features the American premiere of Mikis Theodorakis' Zorbas. Alice Tully Hall. Lincoln Center. (212) 475-3394.