Promoting Beautiful Greece: World Tourism Day 2013 Greek Photo Competition Now Ending 23rd November 2013

 

Stunning, superb, beautiful Greece...

Our collage of the wonderful photographs received this year

Over 200 absolutely stunning photos of Greece were entered and of course we put them to music, just as we did last year - the only difference is that this year we couldn't decide so we created two versions which are equally beautiful.

The first version is set to Con te Partiro/ Pote Xana by our Global Greek of the Year 2012 Mario Frangoulis singing with Yiorgos Dalaras

The second version is set to the set to the haunting and nostalgic melody of Tzivaeri by Eleftheria Arvanitaki - a beautiful traditional song which talks about nostos and those who left Greece for a better life in the 'ksenitia' - the foreign land ..


We've posted all the photos in the album World Tourism Day 2013 Greek Photo Competition, so please click here and vote with a 'like' for the one(s)you like.

The picture with the greatest number of likes wins a very 'Greek' prize and he/she is not the only one to win... so please get liking!

We think these stunning photos deserve your vote!

Although due to close on 17th November, we have extended the voting period so that more people can see these magnificent photos and vote! There are so many amazing photos that deserve more than the 1, 2, 3 or 4 votes that they have received so far!
Voting will now end on Saturday 23rd November, 2013.

Good luck to all ! 

Καλή Επιτυχία σε όλους!

At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 

© GlobalGreekWorld 2013 All Rights Reserved

Stage Heroes- My Heroes! Global Greek of the Year 2012, Mario Frangoulis at the Herodes Atticus Theatre, Athens

 Our Global Greek Of TheYear 2012, the wonderful Mario Frangoulis,

this Sunday at Athens' Herodeion! 

Mario Frangoulis  
 Stage Heroes - My Heroes

ODEON of HERODES ATTICUS

 ΩΔΕΙΟΝ ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΟΥ 

In a musical excursion inspired by the heroes of his artistic journey, Mario Frangoulis on the 22nd of September 2013 ,will present an original musical programme aptly named “Stage Heroes, My Heroes.”at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus under the Parthenon...

Under the musical direction of Maestro Loukas Karytinos, legendary heroes from the opera and the musicals, will come to life on the stage, through the lyric voice of our internationally acclaimed Global Greek tenor.

He will create images and sketches of his dreams and significant moments, from his personal journey in theatre and music from the early years of his career until today.

Mario Frangoulis will interpret in his own unique way, arias from well-known and loved operas such as: “The Barber of Seville,” “Traviata,” “L'Elixir d'amore,” Napolitan Canzonets on passion and love, dedicated to the famous Italian tenor Mario Lanza, but also significant roles from major Greek composers which were significant moments of Mario's  career, such as, “The Liturgy of Orpheas,” “Erotokritos,” “The Birds,” and many more.
 
Mario will be joined on stage by his friend, soprano Deborah Myers, and together, transport us with their magical and rare stage chemistry into the world of musical-theatre, where Mario began his musical career.

They will perform well-known duets from the most famous musicals Mario has performed in such as, “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The King and I,” “West Side Story,” and more. The first concert we ever saw of Mario's was in London, when he was Mario in Les Miserables!  We've been fans ever since!

The concert will feature rare multi-media material from key moments in Mario's career both in Greece and abroad. The musical journey will be completed with his favourite and most loved songs from yesterday and today, from his international repertoire, in a rich biographical concert that will give to us his best moments, in an evening filled with nostalgia and emotion.

PRE-SALE: www.livetickets.gr
Ticket Services: 39 Panepistimiou (Pesmazoglou Arcade)
Telephone purchases: 210-723-4567 or www.ticketservices.gr.
Presented by: Live2

********************************************
ΜΑΡΙΟΣ ΦΡΑΓΚΟΥΛΗΣ
«Stage Heroes – Οι δικοί μου Ήρωες»

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 22 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2013

ΩΔΕΙΟ ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΟΥ

Μια μουσική αναδρομή εμπνευσμένη από τους αγαπημένους ήρωες της καλλιτεχνικής του πορείας θα παρουσιάσει ο Μάριος Φραγκούλης στις 22 Σεπτεμβρίου στο Ωδείο Ηρώδου Αττικού, σε μια πρωτότυπη μουσική παράσταση με τίτλο «Stage Heroes – Οι δικοί μου Ήρωες», σε μουσική διεύθυνση Λουκά Καρυτινού.

Θρυλικοί ήρωες της όπερας, των μιούζικαλ, του θεάτρου αλλά και της έβδομης τέχνης θα αναβιώσουν στη σκηνή του Ηρωδείου με την λυρική φωνή του διεθνή Έλληνα τενόρου σκιαγραφώντας τα όνειρα και τις σημαντικές στιγμές της προσωπικής του διαδρομής στο θέατρο και τη μουσική, από τα πρώτα χρόνια της καριέρας του μέχρι και σήμερα.

Ο Μάριος Φραγκούλης θα ερμηνεύσει με το δικό του μοναδικό τρόπο άριες από γνωστές και αγαπημένες όπερες όπως «O κουρέας της Σεβίλλης», «Τραβιάτα», «Το ελιξήριο της αγάπης», ναπολιτάνικες καντσονέτες που τραγουδούν το πάθος και τον έρωτα με αναφορές στον σπουδαίο Ιταλό τενόρο Μάριο Λάνζα, αλλά και ρόλους από έργα μεγάλων Ελλήνων δημιουργών που αποτέλεσαν σταθμούς στην καριέρα του όπως «Η Λειτουργία του Ορφέα», «Ερωτόκριτος», «Όρνιθες» κ.ά.

Τον δημοφιλή ερμηνευτή θα συνοδεύσει επί σκηνής η σοπράνο Ντέμπορα Μάγιερς για να μας μεταφέρουν με τη σπάνια χημεία που τους ενώνει, στο λαμπερό κόσμο των μιούζικαλ -από όπου ξεκίνησε το μουσικό του ταξίδι ο Μάριος Φραγκούλης -ερμηνεύοντας γνωστά ντουέτα από διάσημα μιούζικαλ όπως τα «Le Miserables», «Phantom of the Opera», «The King and I», «West Side Story» κ.ά.

Τη συναυλία θα πλαισιώσει σπάνιο οπτικοακουστικό υλικό από μοναδικές στιγμές της καριέρας του αγαπημένου καλλιτέχνη στην ελληνική και ξένη σκηνή.

Η μουσική αναδρομή θα ολοκληρωθεί με αγαπημένα τραγούδια, από το χθες και το σήμερα, της διεθνούς δισκογραφίας του Μάριου Φραγκούλη σε μία πλούσια «βιογραφική» συναυλία που υπόσχεται να μας χαρίσει δυνατές στιγμές, σε μια βραδιά γεμάτη νοσταλγία και συγκίνηση.

ΠΡΟΠΩΛΗΣΗ – ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ

Καταστήματα PUBLIC
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Ticket Services
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At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows!
© GlobalGreekWorld 2013 All Rights Reserved

Dedicated to the Greek Non-Striking Worker: Here's to the Heroes - Mario Frangoulis

The bright side of the extensive strikes in Athens in the last few days...
a lovely morning walk along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue with hundreds of others...
the real heroes - trying to get to work.


Mario's beautiful song is dedicated to all those who had to get to work over the last few days in an Athens that was deprived of public transport - Buses, Trains, Metro, Taxis by the striking Public Sector employees ahead of the voting tonight by the Greek Parliament of the latest round of unending austerity measures, imposed by politicians and the Troikan bureaucrats who can't, or rather don't want to, see past their highly paid nose.

Let's hope it will be a peaceful day today.

Here's to the Heroes...

At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows! 

© GlobalGreekWorld 2012 All Rights Reserved

18 Years On: Remembering Manos Hadjidakis

Eighteen years ago today, Greece sadly farewelled one of her most talented. Internationally acclaimed composer Manos Hadjidakis, passed into eternity leaving behind him a wealth of beautiful music, his legacy to Greece, his people and the world.

His most well known, Never on Sunday, the internationally acclaimed title song from the film starring Melina Mercouri and directed by Jules Dassin, became an instant success around the world and granted him an Academy Award in 1960. 

With the Greek elections in just a couple of days, this Hadjidakis song, with lyrics by the great Nikos Gatsos, which talks about Greece and the 1821 War of Independence and its heroes, seems to be particularly appropriate right now, at a time when our people and this beautiful and historic homeland is desperately seeking direction and leadership from non-existent leaders...


 

'Tsamikos' sung by Global Greek of the Year, Mario Frangoulis...

Στίχοι: Νίκος Γκάτσος
Μουσική: Μάνος Χατζιδάκις
Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Μανώλης Μητσιάς

Στα κακοτράχαλα τα βουνά

με το σουράβλι και το ζουρνά

πάνω στην πέτρα την αγιασμένη

χορεύουν τώρα τρεις αντρειωμένοι.

Ο Νικηφόρος κι ο Διγενής

κι ο γιος της Άννας της Κομνηνής.

Δική τους είναι μια φλούδα γης

μα εσύ Χριστέ μου τους ευλογείς

για να γλυτώσουν αυτή τη φλούδα

απ' το τσακάλι και την αρκούδα.

Δες πώς χορεύει ο Νικηταράς

κι αηδόνι γίνεται ο ταμπουράς.

Από την Ήπειρο στο Μοριά

κι απ' το σκοτάδι στη λευτεριά

το πανηγύρι κρατάει χρόνια

στα μαρμαρένια του χάρου αλώνια.

Κριτής κι αφέντης είν' ο Θεός

και δραγουμάνος του ο λαός.

Source: Stixoi 

Just click on the arrow to listen to some more of Hadjidakis' unforgettable melodies in the playlist below.


Read more:
Manos Hadjidakis - Official Website
Manos Hadjidakis on Wikipedia

Happy 85th Birthday, Miki! Χρόνια Πολλά και Καλά, Μίκη Μας! Να μας Ζήσεις!

Tonight, 29th July 2010, our legendary composer, and one of our greatest Global Greeks, Mikis Theodorakis celebrates his 85th birthday among friends, at a concert at Athens' Lykavettos Theatre with the whole of Athens literally and figuratively at his feet!

Among the many friends who will be taking part in the birthday tribute to our beloved Miki, are artists he has worked with over his many years of music... Turkish composer Zulfu Livaneli, Greek composers Loukianos Kilaidonis, Lavrentis Mahairitsas, and Dionysis Savvopoulos; singers Maria Farandouri, Petros Pandis, Glykeria, Petros Gaitanos, Nena Venetsanou, Dimitris Bassis, Antonis Kalogiannis, Vassilis Lekkas and Alexandros Hadjis; actors Bessy Malfa, Yiannis Bezos, Katerina Papoutsaki, Santouri player Areti Ketime and songwriter Manolis Rassoulis....

It seems like yesterday that Miki turned 70 and the magnificent concert held in his honour at the Athens Kallimarmaro Stadium. That stadium was filled to it's 80,000 capacity 15 years ago, in 1995, and the performers who paid tribute to Miki then were so many that the concert lasted several hours even though each singer sang one song...but where do you start with Miki's vast repertoire?

Tonight's birthday tribute will be much more intimate, only about 3500 people fit into the Lykavettos Theatre, but the atmosphere will be fantastic, one of celebration and rejoicing, for Greece's Mikis Theodorakis, The Man, the Genius, the Legend as Greek Australian producer, Eleni Evangel calls him in her documentary (More about Eleni and her work in another post...)

What can we say about Miki? There is so much to say about him that we don't know where to start...so, tonight we will simply wish him Χρόνια Πολλά και Καλά, and thank him for the wonderful gift of music that he has shared with us all so generously. Magnificent music that has so enriched our lives, wherever we may be in the world! 

We have watched him in action conducting concerts at Athens' Herodeion, or fronting for causes dear to his heart, such as Palestine or speaking for the people of Kurdistan and Ocalan  and we have listened to him speak many times.  

His presence is magnetizing and awe-inspiring. In fact, just shaking the hand of one of Greece's living legends is an honour indeed!

Here are a few of his most well-known pieces...enjoy!



Kaymos




Epitafios

To Gelasto Paidi

Ta Lianotragouda (Yiannis Ritsos)

Axion Estin (Odysseas Elytis) 





The Ballad of Mauthausen (Iakovos Kambanellis)

Z - the film by Costas Gavras

Serpico

and we will close this tribute with his most well-known and loved masterpiece - one that travelled the Greek soul to all corners of the world... Zorba the Greek!

As Anthony Quinn, the one and only Zorba, said in paying tribute to our wonderful Miki when the two legends met at a concert in Munich, almost 40 years after Zorba the Greek...

Photo Source: www.anthonyquinn.org

'The music of Zorba is the music of Life, and to live life fully, you must always Love, and I love YOU...'

For us, all of Miki's music is indeed the music of Life and Miki mas, we ALL love you!!!


May God keep you well and strong so that you can continue to share your God-given gift with us and the world for many years to come!

Χρόνια Πολλά και Καλά, Μίκη!

Σ'ευχαριστούμε!

Global Greek Music: Mario Frangoulis sings Manos Hadjidakis - Asteri tou Voria - Aστέρι του Βοριά - North Star

In his latest album and tribute to Manos Hadjidakis, Epohi tis Agapis or Season of Love, our tremendously talented Global Greek performer, Mario Frangoulis, sings one of the composer's most beautiful pieces.  

Asteri tou Voria, lyrics by Nikos Gatsos shown below, was composed for Elia Kazan's acclaimed film about the massacre and expulsion of the Greeks and Armenians from Asia Minor "America, America" released in 1963.

Τ' αστέρι του βοριά
θα φέρει ξαστεριά
μα σαν φανεί
μεσ' απ' το πέλαγο πανί
θα γίνω κύμα και φωτιά
να σ' αγκαλιάσω ξενητιά

Και 'συ χαμένη μου
πατρίδα μακρυνή
θα μείνεις χάδι και πληγή
σαν ξημερώσει σ' άλλη γή

Τώρα πετώ
για της ζωής το πανηγύρι
τώρα πετώ
για της χαράς μου την γιορτή

Φεγγάρια μου παλιά
καινούργια μου πουλιά
διώχτε τον ήλιο
και τη μέρα απ' το βουνό
για να με δείτε να περνώ
σαν αστραπή στον ουρανό Δίς

Διώχτε τον ήλιο
και τη μέρα απ' το βουνό
για να με δείτε να περνώ
σαν αστραπή στον ουρανό...

There are several versions on YouTube...we are including two more which we think are beautiful - you can choose the one you prefer!

With Manolis Mitsias and composer Dimitri Papadimitriou

 

With Elena Moudiri-Hasiotou and Katerina Sissini 

Two students from the Aristotelian University Theatre School on a school excursion to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus sing the song a cappella... a lovely goosebump producing version in a sacred setting where the acoustics are superb!

Which one do you prefer?