The lovely Apollon Theater, right at the heart of Syros’s capital, Ermoupolis, is running a string of performances until tomorrow dedicated to Markos Vamvakaris, one of the country’s most popular and respected musicians of rebetika, a genre that came to Greece with the refugees of Asia Minor and represented the underground in a manner similar to that of jazz in the USA.

The performance has been put together by a local theater company. It is directed by Eleni Georgopoulou, the drama is by Emilia Valvi, the music selected by Michalis Klapakis and the lighting designed by Linos Meitanis.

The performance captures the musician at the moment right before his death. He is asked to select one thing to take with him to the afterlife. With the help of two friends, he reminisces on the course of his life, remembering his experiences and the choices he made as a musician in order to understand what was the single most important event or act that he would like to take with him. He relives every important step, goes back over his choices and finally, makes his selection. Tickets for the performance cost 15 euros.