Mikis Theodorakis
Upcoming Performances
About Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis was born on the Greek island of Khios in the Aegean Sea on 29 July 1925. He grew up with Greek folk music and was early influenced by the Byzantine liturgy. Even as a child, he decided to become a composer.
Theodorakis’ life has been characterized by his political commitment to the Greek people and their freedom, by persecution and struggle for survival. His activities as resistance fighter during the occupation of Greece by German, Bulgarian and Italian troops led to his arrest and torture in 1943. The Civil War of 1947-49 to him meant being tortured again and finally banished to the penal colonies of Ikaria and Makronissos, where he barely survived.
From 1945 Theodorakis studied intermittently with Philoktitis Economidis at the Odeion music school and from 1954-1959 with Eugène Bigot and Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1957 he was awarded the gold medal of the composition competition of the World Festival in Moscow for his ’Suite No.1’ and in 1959 the American Copley Prize for the best European composer. Furthermore he received the first prize of the International Institute of Music in London. During that time, he created ballet musics such as Greek Carnival, Les Amants de Téruel and Antigone in close collaboration with international theatres.
This successful period was interrupted by a bitter cultural struggle in Greece in which right-wing and left-wing groups and factions were engaged in fierce controversies. Theodorakis became one of the leading personalities among the renewers of Greece. After the assassination of the left-wing politician Grigoris Lambrakis in 1963 he founded the Lambrakis Youth and took his seat in the Greek Parliament. During that time, he also notched up great successes and achieved worldwide fame with compositions such as the film music Zorba the Greek and the oratorio Axion Esti. The internal political disturbances of the following years led to the formation of a big and a small junta and their coup d’état. Theodorakis founded the underground movement ’Patriotic Front’. Shortly afterwards, his music was banned, and he was arrested and imprisoned in the concentration camp of Oropos. He was released in 1970 in response to an international initiative of important artists such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Hanns Eisler and Leonard Bernstein.
Having become a symbol of the European student movement, not least by Zorba the Greek, Theodorakis started to live in exile in Paris from 1970. At concert tours he called for further resistance to the military dictatorship and for the restoration of democracy in his home country where he could return to as a politician in 1974. At that time, his compositional work focussed mainly on numerous large-scale song cycles.
It was not until the beginning of the 1980s that he moved back to Paris and fully resumed composing. He began to create increasingly symphonic works, cantatas, oratorios such as Canto General on the occasion of the accession of Greece to the EC, sacred music and operas such as I Metamorfosis tou Dionisou. In the time that followed, the independent left-winger Mikis Theodorakis was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Conservative government of Mitsotakis, making an educational and cultural reform his particular task from 1990 till 1992 and promoting the reconciliation between Greece and Turkey.
After retreating from politics, he was appointed general music director of the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Hellenic Radio and Television in 1993 and was also in great demand as conductor of his own works. In the years before and after 1990 Theodorakis composed the great lyric tragedies based on classical literature: Medea, Elektra, Antigone. At the beginning of 1998 he donated his entire collections to the Lilian Voudouri Foundation at the Megaron in Athens.
In 2000 Mikis Theodorakis was proposed as nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize with great support of not only the Greek population and was shortlisted by the Nobel Committee. For his artistic œuvre in the field of film music he has been awarded the Erich Wolfgang Korngold Prize at the International Film Music Biennial in Bonn in 2002. In November 2005 Theodorakis has been awarded the UNESCO prize for arts and music in Aachen/Germany.
Worklist
Chronology
Products
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In stock€35.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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from: EpitaphComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11199In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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from: DionysusComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11217In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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Cycle of songsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: French, Greek, EnglishProduct number: ER 35In stock€35.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Suite in 21 movements from the homonymous film by Miguel LittinComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: small orchestra
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for solo flute (or oboe or clarinet in Bb or trumpet in Bb), string orchestra and percussionComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute (oboe/clarinet/trumpet) solo, strings and percussion
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Adagio
Instrumentation: flute (oboe, clarinet in Bb, trumpet in Bb), string orchestra and percussion - flute, piano and string orchestraProduct number: ER 11In stock€48.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(Part I from the "Oresteia"-Trilogy)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bass, baritone, men's choir and orchestraLanguage: Greek
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Ballet SuiteComposer: Mikis TheodorakisText writer: Michael Cacojannis | Odysseus Elytis | Nikos Gatsos | Iakovos Kambanellis | Yiannis Ritsos | Errikos Thalassinos | Mikis TheodorakisInterpreter: Lakis Karnesis | Sophia Michaelidi | Kostas PapadopoulosChoir: Hungarian Radio ChoirOrchestra/ensemble: Hungarian State OrchestraConductor: Lukas Karytinos | Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: 2 CDsEdition: 2 CDsProduct number: INT 31632In stock€24.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Seven songs for alto (or bass/baritone) and symphony orchestraComposer: Mikis TheodorakisEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Andalucía
Instrumentation: alto (or bass / baritone) and orchestraProduct number: ED 21362Product TypeIn stockAs low as €23.99Incl. Tax -
Seven songs for alto (or bass/baritone) and symphony orchestraComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: alto (or bass / baritone) and orchestraLanguage: Greek
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Music for ancient dramaComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, choir, guitar and double bassLanguage: Greek
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Tragédie lyrique in two actsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialLanguage: Greek
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Opera in two actsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisLibrettist: Mikis TheodorakisInterpreter: Wladimir Feljaer | Juri Kovalenko | Irina Liogkaja | Peter Migounov | Leonid Repin | Emilia Titarenko | Eugeni WitshnewskiConductor: Alexandr ChernoushenkoOrchestra/ensemble: St. Petersburg State Academic Capella OrchestraMedia Type: 2 CDsEdition: 2 CDsProduct number: INT 33162In stock€24.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Cycle of SongsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: French, Greek, EnglishProduct number: ER 14In stock€51.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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OratorioComposer: Mikis TheodorakisEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Axion Esti
Instrumentation: baritone, lyric baritone, narrator, mixed choir and orchestraProduct number: ED 21632Product TypeIn stockAs low as €54.99Incl. Tax -
OratorioComposer: Mikis TheodorakisAuthor: Odysseus ElytisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: baritone, lyric baritone, narrator, mixed choir and orchestraLanguage: Greek
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Cycle of SongsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: GreekProduct number: ER 23In stock€34.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Cycle of SongsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: French, Greek, EnglishProduct number: ER 34In stock€34.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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from: OdysseyComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11202In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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from: Ballad of the Dead BortherComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11229In stock€3.99Incl. Tax
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(Original version)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reductionInstrumentation: mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, mixed choir and 15 instrumentsLanguage: SpanishProduct number: ED 22417Out of stock€45.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction, paperbackSeries: Canto General
Instrumentation: solo parts, mixed choir and orchestraProduct number: ER 86-01In stock€85.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction, HardcoverSeries: Canto General
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, mixed choir and 15 instrumentsProduct number: ER 86In stock€88.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(Symphonic Version)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, tenor, bassbaritone, mixed choir and orchestraLanguage: Spanish
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(Original Version)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisAuthor: Pablo NerudaMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, bassbaritone, mixed choir and 15 instrumentsLanguage: Spanish
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Oratorio for Soloists, Choir and OrchestraComposer: Pablo Neruda | Mikis TheodorakisInterpreter: Alexandra Papadjiakou | Frangiskos VoutsinosOrchestra/ensemble: Berliner InstrumentalistenConductor: Sigurd Brauns | Lukas KarytinosChoir: Rundfunkchor BerlinMedia Type: 2 CDsEdition: 2 CDsProduct number: INT 31142In stock€24.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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OratorioComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor, solo piano, mixed choir and symphonic orchestraLanguage: Greek
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OratorioComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Canto Olympico
Instrumentation: tenor, mixed choir, piano and orchestraProduct number: ER 1In stock€75.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Ballet suiteComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Carnaval
Instrumentation: orchestraLanguage: French, Greek, EnglishProduct number: ER 3In stock€75.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Mikis TheodorakisInterpreter: Alexandra GravasOrchestra/ensemble: St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Symphony OrchestraConductor: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: CDProduct number: INT 33482In stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Suite-Ballet for orchestraComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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(Salutations / Grüße)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisAuthor: Manos Eleftheriou | Jannis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano, mixed choir and orchestraLanguage: Greek
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(Libation Bearers / Choephoren)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: women's choir and orchestraLanguage: Greek
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Tune bookInstrumentation: celloProduct number: ER 113In stock€34.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and strings
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for Piano and OrchestraComposer: Mikis TheodorakisEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: ED 20819Product TypeIn stockAs low as €41.99Incl. Tax
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from: Eighteen Little Songs of the Bitter HomelandComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11203In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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for alto saxophone and orchestraComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Yannis SamprovalakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: alto saxophone and orchestra
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A collection of new pieces for pianoMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: pianoLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 21470In stock€10.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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from: EpiphanyComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Tatiana PapageorgiouMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21060 Q11195In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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Cycle of SongsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: GreekProduct number: ER 21In stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Cycle of SongsComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Sheet musicSeries: Dionysos
Instrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: French, Greek, EnglishProduct number: ER 39In stock€35.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Religious musical drama for baritone, mixed chorus and small instrumental ensembleComposer: Mikis TheodorakisMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice, mixed choir and small orchestraLanguage: Greek
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Suite for cello and pianoComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Henning SchmiedtInstrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 21249Product TypeIn stockAs low as €27.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Mikis TheodorakisInterpreter: Jens Naumilkat | Henning SchmiedtMedia Type: CDProduct number: INT 34242In stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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13 Lieder von Mikis TheodorakisComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Sebastian SchwabSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: voice and pianoProduct number: ED 22260Product TypeIn stockAs low as €34.99Incl. Tax -
Songs by Mikis Theodorakis rearranged for voice and piano by Sebastian SchwabComposer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Sebastian SchwabInterpreter: Johanna Krumin | Peter Schoene | Sebastian Schwab | Markus ZugehoerMedia Type: CDProduct number: WER 51202In stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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5 songs for voice and large orchestra arranged by Sebastian Schwab (2016)Composer: Mikis TheodorakisArranger: Sebastian SchwabMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice and orchestraLanguage: German