The applause emanating from the Athens Academy on Tuesday evening was seemingly without an end, as the Academy honored Mikis Theodorakis, arguably one of the greatest contemporary Greek composers and artists.
The Academy’s president Spyros Evangelatos opened the ceremony, who recalled how Theodorakis was distinguished amongst his peers at the start of his career in the 1950s. The Academy’s general secretary Vasilios Petrakos spoke of Theodorakis’ life and body of work in relation to music, freedom and Greece, while welcoming him in the Academy’s ranks.
Mr. Theodorakis then took the stand and explained that the “only solution” for Greece is to take the Swiss example, just like Greece’s first governor Ioannis Kapodistrias, and create a neutral country. The composer explained the great role and importance of Greece in western culture, sport and civilization, while expanding upon his proposition.
According to Theodorakis Greece has not been truly free since it claimed its independence in 1821, as foreign interventions have been consistent. The composer believes that this foreign interest in Greece can paradoxically encourage Greek neutrality and lead the country into a new era of cultural and material growth, by overcoming the “middle ages” of the post-war era.
A concert will be held at the newly-revamped Municipal Theater of Piraeus on Thursday at 9pm, where Nena Venetsanou, Lakis Halkias and the Mikis Theodorakis Orchestra will perform some of Theodorakis’ most memorable and loved cinematic and theatrical themes.
A full transcript of Mr. Theodorakis’ speech in Greek is available here.
