The music of Mikis Theodorakis, the greatest composer in Greek history, is coming to Melbourne and Sydney in two events which will celebrate his incredible body of work. The concerts will be held on May 17 and May 24.
The concert, titled “Mikis Theodorakis: Romiosini and Beyond,” featuring international vocalist Dimitris Basis and conducted by George Ellis, will be held at the Melbourne Recital Center on May 17 and at Sydney’s City Recital Hall on May 24.
The first half of each two-part concert event features Theodorakis’ “Romiosini,” written in 1966. The deeply moving work is a cycle of songs based on the poetry of Yiannis Ritsos, winner of the Lenin Peace Prize in 1975, which describe the tremendous struggles of the Greek people over the years.
This will be the first time anywhere in the world that “Romiosini” will have been played by a full symphony orchestra, and it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Greek Australians to experience this seminal event in Greek culture.
The concert’s second half will be a celebration of Theodorakis’ beloved popular music, including his world-famous score for the film “Zorba the Greek” and other well-known themes from his many cinematic scores.