Homage to a great lady of song
Haris Alexiou, one of Greece’s great contemporary singers, began a recent press conference on a celebratory concert for the doyenne of Greek song, Vicky Moscholiou, by saying: «We are so happy and so moved. This concert is a gift to our beloved Vicky. We are also very honored to sing her songs, songs that have shone through time because she put her own, special seal on them.» The concert celebrating Moscholiou’s 40-year contribution to the Greek music scene will take place at the Vrachon Theater in Vyronas tomorrow night and brings together 10 of the country’s top female vocalists. Alexiou, Dimitra Galani, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Glykeria, Marinella, Tania Tsanaklidou, Melina Kana, Melina Aslanidou, Eleni Tsaligopoulou and Adriana Babali will perform repertory songs which Moscholiou has made timeless. Rumor also has it that Moscholiou herself may appear on stage for a brief performance. On the same day of the concert, EMI will also be releasing a four-CD album titled «Forty Years of Vicky Moscholiou» which comprises 85 tracks and a short biography of the great singer. At the press conference, the affection and respect the singers have for one another was obvious. «I am the oldest one of the girls here,» said the legendary Marinella. «I harbor very special affection and respect for Moscholiou. She has sung treasures. The least I could do was participate in this party.» Galani spoke of her joy at having the opportunity to perform Moscholiou’s songs, which, she added, «we have all been a little bit jealous of; in a good sense. Other than the fact that Vicky was our greatest teacher, we all have something connecting us to her on a very personal level and this is something we want to convey to the public at the concert.» Moscholiou made her first recording in 1962, though her recording career proper did not really take off until 1964-65 when she performed Stavros Xarchakos’s «The Moon is Lost,» Giorgos Zambetas’s «Twilight» and «Dawn,» and Apostolos Kaldaras’s «I Took the Color from Youth.» Her collaborations with these artists launched her on the road she has successfully followed for 40 years. «I will not talk about her artistry or talent, but about her personality and her integrity,» said Tania Tsanaklidou. «Vicky Moscholiou is pure as an angel, with values, ethos and discretion. I don’t care about how I perform the songs. I will never sing them better than she did. I may even sing them very badly, but I will sing them from the heart.» Vrachon Theater, Vyronas, tel 210.762.6438.
