ROMIOSINI AND BEYOND CELEBRATING MIKIS THEODORAKIS
Featuring International Vocalist Dimitris Basis
The Greek Community of Melbourne is proud to present a celebration concert of Mikis Theodorakis with Romiosini and Beyond to be performed at Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday 17th May 2019. This exclusive one-off performance only two-part concert will feature the music of Romiosini conducted by George Ellis.
Mikis Theodorakis is Greece’s most celebrated orchestral and choral composer.
In this two-part performance the first half is the works by Mikis Theodorakis Romiosini, which the great composer wrote in 1966, a Cycle of Songs based on the poetry of Yiannis Ritsios, winner of the Lenin Peace Prize in 1975. It describes the hard-fought struggle and the ways to be proud of all things Greek. The second half is popular music by Mikis Theodorakis including “Zorba” and his work in cinema.
George Ellis explained, “Romiosini is scored for full symphony orchestra and solo voice. The orchestra for the Melbourne Recital Centre performance will consist of the finest musicians from Melbourne. Concertmaster will be Dimitris Calligeros, from Sydney – trained in Holland of Greek-Australian background, Dimitri has been concertmaster of the Greek Festival of Sydney orchestral concerts every year.” He added, “the superb vocal soloist for this performance is Dimitris Basis from Athens, of major international standing.”
The word romiosini or “Greekness” derives from the Byzantine idea that the Greeks are the true Romioi. the true heirs of the Roman Empire. For hundreds of years under the Turkish occupation the flame of romiosini hundreds of years under the Turkish occupation the flame of romiosini was kept alive in codes of honor, loyalty, bravery, love of the land, religious devotion and patriotism.
George Ellis continued, “Consisting of nine songs, Mikis Theodorakis set the poetry of Yannis Ritsos to music of power and supplication. Via our special personal relationship with Mikis Theodorakis, it is his request for us to present the masterpiece that is Romiosini. This concert also presents popular songs written by the great maestro, it is a huge pleasure to present these songs with some of Australia’s best orchestral musicians, specially selected for this performance.”
The second half of the concert will feature the ever-popular songs of Mikis Theodorakis where the orchestra and soloist will be joined by a band of Greek instruments including the popular Bouzouki. It is known that the great composer wrote the music to Zorba the Greek – he also wrote so many songs that have become part of the Greek Standard repertoire.
