At the age of 96, Mikis Theodorakis passed away, leaving behind an invaluable legacy.
Mikis was imprisoned and tortured during the dictatorship and only in 1970 was he released under intense pressure from great international figures such as Lawrence Olivier, Dmitry Shostakovich, Arthur Miller, Leonard Bernstein, and others.
During the seven years, Mikis’s will did not bend under any duress and his creative beauty gave us many exceptional works which were heard not only during the seven years, but also after the fall of the junta.
In 1974, after the fall of the Dictatorship, he returned to Greece and gave two historic concerts at the Karaiskaki Stadium. The great composer has been in Paris since 1970 as he was released after huge international pressures for the torture he suffered and his aggravated health condition.
From August 1967, whene he was arrested, tragic situations followed with isolation, hunger strikes, severe torture and finally the prisons of Oropos.
Mikis from abroad continued the struggle for the restoration of the Republic in Greece and in 1972 he gives concerts in Israel spreading the message of freedom.
In October 1974, three months after Karamanlis’s solemn return to Greece, Mikis organized a big concert at the Karaiskaki Stadium.
Huge attendance
The huge attendance of the people forced the organizers to organize a second concert with the most important performers of the country to be by the side of Mikis and the audience turned the concerts into a huge wave of celebration for the new era that was coming.
The films and pictures of Mikis Theodorakis directing on stage and singing with tears in his eyes and the huge crowd following him with passion made the rounds of the world and went down in history.
Mikis’ entrance to the Stadium was accompanied by shouts from thousands of spectators and the slogan “Give the junta to the people” gave way to the song “Ena to helidoni” sung by Antonis Kalogiannis with lyrics by Giannis Ritsos from “Axion Esti”.
Latest News
Tender for Repairs on Athens Olympic Stadium’s (OAKA) Iconic Roof
Tender for OAKA project, which is expected to exceed 78 million euros, stipulates that repairs, maintenance must be conducted while venue remains open for events
Louis-Dreyfus Family Eyes 21% Stake in Thessaloniki Port
The newly created Amsterdam-based LeonidsPort company has submitted a voluntary public offer for 21%
EUIPO Throws Out Turkaegean Trademark
The trademark had been filed by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in 2021 and immediately generated heated opposition by Athens
Economic Sentiment Indicator in Greece Drops Slightly in Dec.
The data revealed that the primary drivers of the slight drop were the industrial and retail trade sectors. Conversely, construction and consumer confidence improved.
Greece’s Trade Deficit Surges by 18.7% in Nov. 2024
For the first 11 months of 2024, the total value of imports reached 77.3793 billion euros, a 1.9% rise compared to 75.9482 billion euros in the same period of 2023.
Installing EV Chargers in Your Building is Harder than You Think
So, you just bought an EV in Greece and can’t wait to set up a charger in your apartment building’s parking space? Not so fast—there are a few hurdles you’ll need to clear first.
Greece Announces Grants to Unemployed for New SMEs
Unemployed individuals seeking 12-month grants to fund the creation of new SMEs can apply online until January 21.
Port of Piraeus Reports Record-breaking Year for Cruise Sector
First cruise ship of the season, Viking Saturn, greeted at Greece's largest, busiest port
Greek Energy Minister Skylakakis Announces Subsidies to Mitigate Electricity Prices
“When prices exceed a certain threshold, we intervene,” said Skylakakis
Mitsotakis: Greece is a Beacon of Stability in an Unstable World
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described Greece as a "beacon of stability in an unstable world" following the Epiphany water blessing ceremony at Dexameni Square in Athens.