Mikis Theodorakis is known very much as a political activist as well as the composer of probably the most internationally recognised piece of music ever written, Zorba’s Dance! Much of his music reflects this deep involvement in politics. However, today we will be setting politics aside and performing the love songs of this great composer. Nostalgic, melodic, profound…music set to the poetry of writers such as Ritsos, Elytis and Seferis, these songs continue to resonate throughout Greece today.
Plastikes Karekles
MARINA DELIGIANNI, vocals
MANOLIS TAOUXIS, bouzouki
SPIROS BOLOVINIS, vocals/baglama
PAVLOS CARVALHO, bouzouki/cello
MARIA TSIRODIMITRI, vocals, guitar
“Plastikes Karekles represent a culture of reinvention as defiant and hopeful as the music itself.” –Song Lines magazine
An eclectic fusion of international and Greek musicians with roots from traditional Greek folk to classical and jazz. The group is known and appreciated for their own arrangements of music by Theodorakis, Hadjidakis and Xarhakos featuring a fusion of classical string instruments with Greek traditional ones. The group have appeared at performances and festivals in Greece and elsewhere abroad. In the UK they have performed at Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, St David’s Hall as part of the Proms, as well as more intimate venues such as the Green Note, Vortex and the Forge, London. The musicians of Plastikes Karekles are also the founding members of the Rebetiko Carnival, a one month festival in June with rebetiko music at its heart. They are dedicated to exposing this treasured music to as many people as possible.
A very important part of Plastikes Karekles work is also education and outreach work. This has taken them to not only mainstream schools, but also special needs homes, hospitals and prisons throughout the UK.
A very important part of Plastikes Karekles work is also education and outreach work. This has taken them to not only mainstream schools, but also special needs homes, hospitals and prisons throughout the UK.