#Sonia Theodoridou

[alatismeni-theitsa]

On Saturday, November 2023, the Greek soprano Sonia Theodoridou accompanied by six modern Greek Caryatids, dressed in ancient Greek dresses, entered the British Museum to meet the Caryatid of the Erechtheum of the Acropolis of Athens, abducted by Lord Elgin.

Many of the people who were in the halls of the British Museum began to cry, while the security of the British Museum, which was initially hostile to the protest of the Greek women, then changed its attitude and became friendly, as we read on Sonia Theodoridou's Facebook page.

The soprano Sonia Theodoridou accompanied by six beautiful Greek women dressed in white, as other Caryatids, entered the British museum in search of their lost "sister", causing the interest of both tourists and those visiting the museum at that time.

People pulled aside to pass. Everyone was wondering what was going on. Even the museum officials. As soon as they realized that they were searching in silence for the sixth Caryatid, since they could not find her, they themselves led them to her.

(source)

[sgiandubh]

I'm interested to know whether you came to enjoy Greek music during your many years living in Greece. Do you have any favorite Greek artists or songs that you'd be willing to share? I always enjoy your posts about Greece and all your travel stories for that matter 🙂

Dear Greek Music Anon,

This is a beautiful question and you have made my day: thank you for asking and come back whenever you want, whoever you are - you are always, always welcome!

If you think Greek music is just this...

... then you are touristically biased, Anon. And that is ok, to some extent and not really your fault, because this is exactly what they will have you listen to, when you make the childish mistake to book that Greek Evening on your cruise or tour. For some unfathomable reason, this is what they imagine foreign guests should be shown. But then there is music for their and their friends' souls, something completely different and a whole universe to discover.

This is Greek music to me, Anon:

The best Greek female voice of all times (Callas does not count, for innumerable reasons, we do not discuss a Goddess), Our Lady of the Rebetiko: Haris (it means Grace, by the way) Alexiou. A true Dame Blanche, witty, warm and rightfully worshipped. When I was first introduced to her, I was so moved I almost couldn't open my mouth in awe. I was stupidly glued to my French formulaic praise and I remember I just mumbled something along the lines of 'eh merde alors, fuck it, I just wanted you to know that to me, you are not only the voice of my teenage years: you are the Voice of Time itself'. She laughed and the rest is, as they say, history.

This happened in November 2018, after one of her concerts at the Gazarte hall in Athens: a dificult comeback for her, after a cancer scare. We were very moved and fangirling AF, my Culture and Press colleague (remember her from the Mycenae story? Greek music made us instant friends - I was the only one to know what she was talking about) and I:

I have blurred my former colleague's face. I am not sure she wants to be seen on Tumblr, LOL. And see, Anon? I really look like an overwhelmed twat, in this pic. Chances are I'd look the same at Landcon 2025 (what was the last price, 149 euros? Sweet Baby Jesus, the results).

Haroula's one time lover (speculation is still rife and many shipped those two during the late Eighties and early Nineties, unaware it was completely true) and probably the Greek equivalent of Sinatra is George Dalaras. A., my colleague, is absolutely nuts about him and as such a big, boisterous presence in this man's fandom. She follows him just about everywhere (I didn't understand her and residually still don't, to be honest), so it's not a surprise I quickly got to meet the guy, after one of his extraordinary stunts at the Klimataria, a well-known tavern and rebetiko joint smack dab in downtown Athens (I think it was one week before I met and befriended Haroula, funny that):

Now, he looks like a banker. But back in 1993, he looked and sang like this:

This is his greatest hit, if you ask me. Βαμμένα Κόκκινα Μαλλιά (Dyed Red Hair) is the score of a very successful Greek TV series during the Nineties (don't ask, it's very syrupy) and legit one of the most beautiful Greek love songs ever written. But unlike A, I am completely chilled as far as Dalaras is concerned and I think it showed, when we met. He offered an autograph and I said no, just because I am completely dumb, like that. The trouble is, he gently remembered me and he always brought it up every single time we met (at a couple of events and receptions) - how's that for totally embarrassing, eh?

And then you have the opera divas, among which is my dear friend Sonia Theodoridou, one of the best Greek sopranos after Callas. Sonia came back to Athens after a rich career in Germany right in the middle of the economic crisis turmoil. Things were not easy for her and I have to say, bless her heart, she is not an easy person, either (which opera singer is, mind you?). But her voice is magical and she loves to play with it. See what she can do with a really meh song, written and successfully performed by Pandelis Pandelidis, the one-time local Justin Bieber (he unfortunately died in 2016, in a motorcycle accident):

The strange instrument you see in the clip is a Cretan lyra, by the way. I hate it with a passion. But I still love Sonia, no matter what.

We shared a lot of things, Sonia and I. Here is our first pic, together with her ex-husband, Theodoros (still a friend):

These people are those I personally know and like/love. I haven't told you anything yet about the formidable, mythical Maria Farantouri, Mikis Theodorakis' muse or Vicky Moscholiou, another diva (different niche, though). Nothing about Miltos Paschalidis, either, the mathematician turned singer or Alkinoos Ioannidis, perhaps the best Cypriot voice after George Michael. The only reason I won't, for now at least, is that I don't really like mammoth posts. And this is quickly turning into one of those.

But I digressed. You asked me about my favorite Greek song, Anon. It's Manos Hatzidakis' Kemal - a masterpiece with a strong, subversive political message in the guise of an Oriental cruel parable:

Do I know it by heart? Of course I do (and I always, always cry, because I am a sentimental idiot, like that). Singing along with the locals at concerts, in taverns, in your car, on that bus ride, is a mandatory part of the Greek experience. And the most heartfelt homage you can pay to all those wonderful men and women who make our world a brighter, better place.

[lesser-known-composers]

Tommaso Traetta, Antigona,  "Ombra cara amorosa" (Antigona aria), by  Sonia Theodoridou

[x-nidieunimaitre-x]

aşk yaşıyorum, iyi geceler

[nikoskatsaros]

Sonia and Tasos

[faredisfare-blog]

Sonia Theodoridou, To Call Up the Shades

[lesser-known-composers]

Cavalli - La Calisto 'Restino Imbalsamate'

The start of Act 3 of Francesco Cavalli's opera La Calisto. Restino Imbalsamate - Calisto aria Calisto - Maria Bayo Jove - Marcello Lippi Mercury - Hans Peter Kammerer Diana - Louise Winter Endymion - Graham Pushee Linfea - Alexandre Oliver, tenor young satyr - Dominique Visse Pane / Natura - Barry Banks Silvano - Reinhard Dorn Giunone - Sonia Theodoridou Le Furie - Robin Tyson Alessandra Mantovani David Pittsinger Judith Vindevogel Concerto Vocale conducted by Rene Jacobs. 1996, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels.

[lesser-known-composers]

Antonio Cesti - Tu mancavi a tormentarmi Sonia Theodoridou, Christos Sakellaridis

[lesser-known-composers]

Tommaso Traetta - Ombra cara amorosa

Sonia Theodoridou

[lesser-known-composers]

Marco Antonio Cesti - Tu mancavi a tormentarmi 

Sonia Theodoridou, Christos Sakellaridis

[nikoskatsaros]

The Soprano