Theodorakis

Mikis Theodorakis is a renowned Greek troubadour and one of his country's greatest composers. He wrote many symphonies, cantatas, several ballets and operas, plus popular songs including "Zorba the Greek," famous from Herb Alpert's instrumental hit. Born in 1925 on the Greek island of Chios, Theodorakis began writing songs quite early. He formed his own choir and gave his first performance at the age of 17. An active resistance fighter during World War II, he studied at the conservatories in both Athens and Paris (the latter with Olivier Messiaen).

From the most important greek composer a mega-collection with 200 great interpretations. A real collector's item with the superb melodies and rhythms of Mikis Theodorakis to celebrate the 1st of May. More than 11 hours of wonderful songs and music, with the best voices of the greek musical pantheon. A special gift for all my friends who like greek music of quality. From Mikis with love. Enjoy.

The German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken returns to her Greek roots with her new album HELIKON: On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Mikis Theodorakis on 29 July 2025, she is now dedicating a multi-faceted and very personal album to the important Greek composer.

The German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken returns to her Greek roots with her new album HELIKON: On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Mikis Theodorakis on 29 July 2025, she is now dedicating a multi-faceted and very personal album to the important Greek composer. Theodorakis' compositions cover a broad spectrum of musical genres and combine classical and modern music with elements of Greek folk music. Danae Dörken interprets his piano concerto ‘Helikon’, a highly exciting early work that remains half-completed, and combines it with Suite No. 1 - a ‘hymn to the divinity of dance’ - as well as with selected songs that emanate a very special magic. Danae Dörken plays them in an arrangement for solo piano by Tatiana Papageorgiou.

A new 3CD collection with songs and music of the great Mikis Theodorakis. The first CD has well known tunes in recent instrumental versions played by a clarinette, a violin and a bouzouki virtuozi, the second has wonderful parts from soundtracks, while in the third CD you will hear the composer himself singing alone and with his muse, Maria Farandouri, from some rare live performances. A collector's item in lossless. Enjoy.

Just in time for the 85th birthday of Mikis Theodorakis (born on 29th July 1925), the production of one of the most spectacular Theodorakis album projects of the last years has been accomplished.

Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis is probably best known for the soundtrack to the film 'Zorba the Greek,' but he has produced an extensive body of concert music and includes Olivier Messiaen among his teachers. Much of his work has a political subtext and attempts a synthesis of popular, folk and classical symphonic styles, communicating directly with simple rhythms and a pared-down harmonic vocabulary reminiscent of Carl Orff. The oratorio "axion esti" is a setting of a poem by Nobel Prize winner Odysseus Elytis that refers to events of the Second World War and the subsequent German-Italian occupation of Greece. The nationalist flavor of the piece is underscored by the use of Byzantine church music, Greek folk dances and native instruments such as the bouzouki, in addition to a vocalist cast as a "folk singer." This 1983 Dresden performance, conducted by Theodorakis himself, is sung in German.

This album includes two song cycles: "The song of the dead brother" (tracks 1-9) with Grigoris Bithikotsis and "Deserters", written on poetry of Yiannis Theodorakis, with the composer himself singing. We could say that the first cycle is where Theodorakis embraces the "zeimbekiko" dance, since 5 out of 9 songs are among the best zeimbekika ever composed. Greeks adored these songs and they sing and dance them till today. Excellent bouzouki played by two virtuoso and of course Grigoris Bithikotsis in his zenith. Very interesting is the listening of young Mikis Theodorakis (37 yo), singing the 4 last songs, the "Deserters" cycle. He never reclaimed a singer's voice, but you can feel his soul in it. After all, it is his beloved brother's poetry.

This double CD presents a good opportunity to discover the symphonic works of the world-famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis (*1925), a living legend in his own country. It contains the Suite no. 1 for Piano and Orchestra and the Piano Concerto, written in the fifties, when Theodorakis was still at the Paris Conservatoire, and the Symphony no. 2, УThe Song of the EarthФ (based on Suite no. 1 and the ballet Antigone), which marks the composerТs return to his symphonic writing, after 20 years of struggle and suffering for his country and his people. Discover the first studio recording on CD of this landmark Symphony no. 2 and the fascinating Suite and Concerto, in unique recordings, made in 1982 on the occasion of performances at the Echternach International Festival (Luxembourg) and in Antwerp. Theodorakis himself conducts the RTL Symphony Orchestra, and Cyprien Katsaris demonstrates in all three works his legendary virtuosity and unsurpassed artistry.