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| Mikis Theodorakis conducting in Hamburg in 1971 |
The name of Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis is forever associated with the soundtrack to the 1964 film Zorba the Greek with its now ubiquitous main theme which was inspired by old Cretan traditional dances. But Theodorakis’ musical output was far wider than this, encompassing symphonies, operas and more.
In addition he was a tireless cultural ambassador for Greece, was elected several times to the Greek Parliament including being a minister, and was general music director of Hellenic State Radio. His commitment to to raising international awareness of human rights, environmental issues, and the need for peace led him to create the Greek–Turkish Friendship Society along with the Turkish author, musician, singer and filmmaker Zülfü Livaneli.
On 14 October 2025, conductor Marios Papadopoulos and the Oxford Philharmonic will be celebrating Theodorakis’ centenary with The Voice of Greece at Cadogan Hall. The concert will feature Theodorakis ‘Zorbas Suite for flute solo and orchestra with soloist Stathis Karapanos, alongside a selection of the composer’s arrangements of Greek popular songs with vocalist Alkistis Protopsalti. The evening opens with the premiere of a new work, Invocation by Australian/Greek composer, Nestor Taylor which features mezzo-soprano Melina Jaharis.
Full details from the Oxford Philharmonic’s website.
