Mikis Theodorakis’s friends to celebrate all aspects of his life
A group of Mikis Theodorakis’s friends from his hometown of Galata on Crete have established an association aimed at promoting, advertising and studying the celebrated composer’s work. The Pan-Cretan Association of Friends of Mikis Theodorakis have also established the Mikis Theodorakis Foundation, which will specialize in his work and promote the arts on the island of Crete more generally. «The values, the great ideals that have put Crete into the annals of history, and its cultural identity especially, are evident throughout Mikis Theodorakis’s work,» says the association in a press note. The first event being put together by the group is an international conference on «Mikis Theodorakis: Man, Artist, Musician, Politician, Native of Crete and Citizen of the World.» The conference runs from Friday to Sunday at the Hania Cultural Center. (Information at www.mikis-crete.gr.) The first day will see presentations by Kathimerini’s Giorgos Malouchos; Theodorakis’s lawyer and comrade Dimitris Karachalios; muse and longtime associate Maria Farandouri; friend of the composer Vyron Samios, and his daughter Margarita, who is also director of the Mikis Theodorakis Popular Orchestra. On day two, Asteris Koutoulas, Ioulita Iliopoulou and Dimitris Koutoulas, among others, will talk about Theodorakis the artist. In the afternoon, speakers on Theodorakis the musician include Gerhard Folkerts, Peter Zacher, Giorgos Demertzis, Tatiana Papageorgiou, Dimitris Karvounis, Nikos Koundouros, Sonia Theodoridou, Lorca Massine, Giorgos Papadakis, Zulfu Livanelli and George Dalaras. The final day will deal with Theodorakis the politician, during which activists in the resistance against the occupation and the dictatorship, historians and biographers will discuss the composer’s contribution to the country’s political life. In other events that will pay tribute to Mikis Theodorakis on his 80th anniversary this year, the Center of Mediterranean Architecture in Hania, Crete, has organized an exhibition on Mikis Theodorakis’s life, work, career and political activity at the city’s Arsenali Hall, opening tomorrow.
