Καλή Επιτυχία - Good Luck to our Global Greeks at the Oscars 2014

Oscar night in Los Angeles tonight and we look forward to seeing at least one of our Global Greeks below collecting an Academy Award and joining the ranks of our glorious Global Greeks who took home a prestigious Academy Award!

 

Alexander Payne - 
Best Picture/Best Director / Best original Screenplay  
Nebraska
In the photo he accepts his Oscar in  
2012 for Best Adapted Screenplay for
The Descendants, saying Σ'αγαπώ Μαμα - I love you Mom! 

Phedon Papamichael

Best Cinematography
Nebraska

 Alexandre Desplat 
Best Original Score 
Philomena



Alexandre Gavras (right)
Best Short film 
Before Losing Everything - Avant que de Tout Perdre

and of course, let's not forget our Honorary Global Greek 
'Mr 110% Greek' Tom Hanks
Best Picture/Best Director 
Captain Phillips 

Last but not least we just have to include the film whose setting is
Greece, beautiful Greece!

 

Greece  and the Southern Peloponnese are the stars of this fascinating film 
Best Adapted Screenplay
Before Midnight

Filmed in Messinia and the Costa Navarino

Good luck to all  - Καλή Επιτυχία σε όλους!
At Global Greek World we'll be watching with special  interest as we wait to see if our list of Global Greek Oscar winners gets to grow even more!

Here are a few of our past winners:

1960 Manos Hadjidakis 
Best Original Song 
Never on Sunday

Vassilis Fotopoulos
1962 Best Art Direction America-America
1964 Best Art Direction (Black and White) Zorba the Greek  

1975 for designing costumes for "The Great Gatsby, - See more at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2011/01/theoni-v-aldredge-tony-and-oscar-winning-costume-designer-dies-at-78.html#sthash.tw62yQD1.dpuf

1969 Costa Gavras
Best Foreign Language Film
Z

1975  Theoni V Aldredge 
 Best Costume Design 
The Great Gatsby

78.html#sthash.tw62yQD1.dpuf

1982 Vangelis Papathanassiou 
Best original Score  
Chariots of Fire

2010 Louie Psihoyios   
Best Documentary Feature
The Cove

1975 for designing costumes for "The Great Gatsby, - See more at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2011/01/theoni-v-aldredge-tony-and-oscar-winning-costume-designer-dies-at-78.html#sthash.tw62yQD1.dpuf

 Alexander Payne 
2005 for Best Adapted Screenplay
Sideways
2012 for Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants

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

© GlobalGreekWorld 2013 All Rights Reserved

29 March 2011: Happy Birthday to Global Greek Vangelis Papathanassiou!!!

Vangelis playing at the Athens 1997 Opening Ceremony... 

Happy Birthday to one of our most acclaimed Global Greeks, Academy Award winning composer Vangelis Papathanassiou.

In the picture above we see Vangelis playing at the Opening Ceremony of the 1997 World Athletics Championships at Athens' magnificent Kallimarmaro Stadium, the stadium built specially for the 1896 Olympics. The music was a mix of original compositions created just for the ceremony along with some of his most well-known pieces.

For those of us who were there on August 1, 1997, it was a memorable experience- a beautiful, inspiring and emotionally-charged ceremony in a marvellous setting... a showcase for Greece's unique history and legacy to the world.

Vangelis' music, sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful, sometimes haunting but always so evocative and compelling,  was the perfect background for the events unfolding on the stadium ground. When he took his seat to perform live and fill the stadium with his music, the 90 000 plus crowd went crazy but the high point of the evening for us was not the brilliant laser show or fireworks display, it was Vangeli's literally electrifying rendition of Greece's National Anthem, his rendition left no-one unmoved - goosebump material.... something we had seen before at a charity performance at Athens' Herodus Atticus Theatre.

The successful organisation of the championships clinched Greece's 2004 Olympic Games nomination and this simply superb ceremony is what set the whole thing going for Athens ...

As a tribute to Vangelis, we thought we would share with you our collection of his works  - his collaboration with Sean Connery for Cavafy's Ithaca, his Oscar winning Chariots of Fire, the incredible Athens 1997 Opening Ceremony,

Athens 1997 Opening Ceremony

Mythodeia at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Odes from the collaboration of Vangelis with Irene Papas - two of our most famous Global Greeks, Alexander the Great, Blade Runner, Missing and more!!

Just click on it to get the music going!

Athens 1997 Opening Ceremony

Vangeli, on behalf of all of us in the Global Greek World, we cannot thank you enough for the magnificent music you have given us!

Χρόνια Πολλά και Καλά! 

Nα μας ζήσεις  - πάντα γερός και δημιουργηκός!

Athens 1997 Opening Ceremony

Global Greeks: To Irene Papas - Xronia Polla kai Kala!!!

A post to wish Happy Birthday to one of our most acclaimed and talented Global Greeks, Irene Papas!!! 

Born in Xiliomodi, near Corinth, in Greece's beautiful Peloponnese, Irene Papas already enjoyed widespread recognition in Greece, but became an internationally acclaimed actress after being discovered by fellow Global Greek Elia Kazan. We will always be grateful to him for bringing this amazing actress to the attention of the world. 

My introduction to Irene Papas came in a movie theatre half way across the world, when as a young child watching the star-studded Guns of Navarone,  I was fascinated by her talent and beauty... I have been a fan ever since.

Her superb acting skills along with her classical and ageless Greek beauty and the fiery passion she brought to her roles, ensured that something extra in many films which themselves have become classics. One of Greece's most accomplished ambassadors,  Irene Papas presence in a film has always added an extra special dimension to it. 

Her compelling and riveting performance, her dynamism and sultry beauty have uniquely enriched movies like  Zorba the Greek, The Guns of Navarone, Z,  screen adaptations of ancient tragedies - Electra, The Trojan Women, Antigone, and even Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Her theatrical performances are equally legendary and an honour and a privilege to watch! 

Irene Papas has won many awards for her performances over the years, but even though she has deserved one at least, she has never received an Academy Award. 

This is something which we believe is an injustice, but she has made light of this omission by quipping ' I never won an Oscar... and the Oscars never won Irene Papas' . 

An unexpected but wonderful musical collaboration with fellow Global Greek, Vangelis Papathanassiou, produced some magnificent albums, Odes  and Rhapsodies, the first featuring traditional folk songs and music,  and the second, Greek Orthodox Byzantine Hymns as well as the controversial 666. 

We have chosen 'Saranta Palikaria', from Odes - a song about the 40 valiant young men who set out from Levadeia to capture Tripolitsa during the Turkish Occupation, and all that that entailed...

You may also like to listen to O Menousis, another traditional song from the time of the Turkish Occupation.

We at Global Greek World wish our beautiful Irene Papas

Χρόνια Πολλά, Πολλά και Καλά!!! 

Να μας ζίσεις!

and thank her for her enormous contribution to Greek Culture and to the promotion of Greece around the world, all these years!

Ευχαριστούμε Πολύ! 

Demis Roussos at The Theatre of Herodus Atticus - The Herodeion - Friday, 25 June 2010

 
'I would like to tell a very beautiful story now, a story about myself and a very old friend of mine, the Wind.... you know, everytime I go back to Greece and climb up to the small hill which is outside of Athens, I meet my friend the Wind and he's telling me beautiful stories, sad stories and happy stories, and then, as the time is passing by with the sound of the bouzoukis coming through Athens....'

With this introduction,  our internationally acclaimed Global Greek performer, Demis Roussos, launches into an unusual version of, yes you guessed it, My Friend the Wind, at his concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London , at the height of his career in 1974.

Interspersed with words such as Agape Mou, (Αγάπη μου), Manoula Mou, (Μανούλα μου)  and Eleni Mou (Ελένη μου), the song became an international hit and the sound of the bouzouki could be heard everywhere... a sound which would make it instantly recognisable.

My Friend the Wind, a song which would speak straight to the heart of Greeks no matter where they were in the world and which 36 years later still manages to travel us back to the sunny and carefree days of the endless Greek summer...

Demis was born Artemios  Ventouris Roussos on June 15, 1946 to 2nd generation Greek parents George and Olga, and raised in Alexandria, the heart of Egypt's wealthy and prosperous Greek Community.

When the Suez Crisis  blew up, his family was one of the many families  who were effectively expelled, leaving all their property and assets behind and forced to go to back to their homeland, Greece.

In Greece, Demis, who had a sound musical education, and exposure to many musical influences, Byzantine, Greek and Arabic,  participated in various musical bands beginning with The Idols when he was 17, the We Five and others.

In 1968 Demis, Vangelis (Papathanassiou) and Lucas Sideras, all former schoolmates at Athens' prestigious Leontios Lykeion, formed Aphrodite's Child, a group which would gain international success with songs such as and It's 5 O'Clock and Rain and Tears 


Even though Aphrodite's Child soon disbanded and each of them began solo careers, their friendship didn't end and Demis and Vangelis continued to record together occasionally.  
Their most successful collaboration was "Race to the End", a vocal adaptation of the musical theme from the Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire, also sung in Spanish as "Tu Libertad", whilst Demis also guested on the soundtrack to Blade Runner (1982) in the song Tales of the Future.)

Demis' solo career began with the song "We Shall Dance" but he released many successful songs, with wonderful melodies.

His single, "Forever and Ever", topped the charts in several countries in the mid 70's and  "My Friend the Wind" was one of his many international hits. 

Other hits with their special Greek flavour which became well known internationally and are still very popular today include

"Velvet Mornings"

"Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye",

and "Lovely Lady of Arcadia".




He appeared on various TV shows throughout Europe, and his guest slots on The Nana Mouskouri show in the UK, were among the most popular. 

Here our two Global Greeks duet on a very catchy traditional Greek song, To Gelekaki..  (Το Γελεκάκι)



On another of her shows, Nana and Demi sing a duet version of his hit single "Happy To Be On An Island In The Sun".




Based primarily in Athens, where his son, Cyril, went to school, Demis travelled extensively between London, (we remember meeting him at the Christmas Day service in 1984 at London's Aghia Sophia), Paris and many other cities in the following years. Demis continued to record many new songs but also recorded some of his hits in other languages. 

In 1985 as a passenger on a TWA flight with his wife, he had a life-changing experience when the flight was hijacked on departure  from Athens and on surviving this ordeal, he felt like he was given a new lease on life. Apparently the hijackers were so impressed that they had a celebrity of Demis' stature on the flight that they even celebrated his upcoming birthday together...

After 1985 he made a comeback releasing new songs which became widely popular and has made a lot of personal appearances, including tours and concerts in Russia, Dubai, Germany, Holland and other European countries.


We are really looking forward to seeing and listening to Demi's unique voice as he performs old favourites and new at his much-awaited concert on 25 June 2010, at 9 pm, kicking off his world tour at the  Herodus Atticus Theatre under Athens' magnificent Parthenon. 

Demis, we thank you for all the wonderful music you have given us. We are really looking forward to your concert... we are really looking forward to hearing the music we loved and the songs we sang along to as we were growing up in the various Greek Communities  around the world. These beautiful nostalgic songs and melodies from one of Greece's most talented ambassadors, helped made Greek music so popular around the world.  

If you want to go, click here, but bear in mind that the tickets went on sale on 4th of June  and sold like hot ....souvlakia!

See you there!

Χριστός Ανέστη - Χρόνια Πολλά! Christos Anesti - Kalo Pascha to All!

To Aghio Fos

Photo Source: Konstantina Moutos

Megalo Savvato last night and the  Midnight Resurrection (Anastasi) Service is the culmination of Holy week.

At the stroke of Midnight as the Priest chants Defte Lavete Fos, everyone clambers to be the first to light his or her candle from the Aghio Fos. This is the Holy Light which arrived in Greece earlier in the day from the Holy Sepulcher in the Holy Lands. 

Anastasi at Aghia Sophia, Neo Psychiko Athens

Photo Source: Konstantina Moutos

Apart from the spiritual fulfillment and sense of renewal, once the service is over it is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and be with family, to exchange the traditional kisses and wish each other 'Christos Anesti' (Christ is Risen) and 'Alithos Anesti'! (Truly, He is Risen). 

Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pascha) today and we are roasting our lamb - either in the oven or on the traditional spit and spend much of the day eating and drinking trying to see who will win in the traditional Tsougrisma of the Eggs! ( we have yet to find a good translation for this one...so we have left it in Grenglish).

It is wonderful to note that many Greek communities around the world make the Anastasi and Easter Day celebrations a Community event so that all members can come, bringing their family and friends, both Greek and non-Greek, to join in the festivities.

These are special memories to hold on to and cherish - a time of bonding of families and reinforcement of the traditions of our Hellenic upbringing, traditions which are timeless and hold strong no matter where we are in the world! 

Easter Sunday is also Kyriaki tis Agapis, the Sunday of Love, with the Agapi service later in the day, with the Evangelio (Gospel) being  read in various languages, Italian, Arabic, Russian and others, proclaiming the universal message of the Resurrection, Rebirth, Hope, Love and Peace for all.

We have chosen to end this series of posts on Greek Holy Week  as we started it!
Listen to this beautiful and unique rendition of Christos Anesti by Irene Papas from her collaboration with Vangelis Papathanassiou...two of our wonderful Global Greeks!

Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών, 

θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας 

και τοις εν τοις μνήμασιν, 

Ζωήν χαρισάμενος

----------

Christos Anesth ek nekron 

Thanato thanato patisas 

Kai tis en ths mnimasi 

Zoi xarisamenos 

 ---------

Christ is risen from the dead 

Crushing death with His death

Giving the gift of life

To all those lying in their tombs

 

To all our friends in the Global Greek World who are celebrating today...

Christos Anesti!  

Kalo Pascha kai Chronia Polla!! 

Have a Truly Blessed  Easter!

A traditional Greek Easter Greeting Card


All photos are from the GGW archives unless otherwise mentioned.  

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

 © GlobalGreekWorld 2009-2017 All Rights Reserved

Global Greeks: To Vangelis Papathanassiou - Xronia Polla kai Kala!

A post to wish Happy Birthday to one of our most acclaimed Global Greeks, Academy Award winning composer Vangelis Papathanassiou.

As it is Holy Week we thought we would share with you one of his lesser known works - an arrangement from Rapsodies  - a marvellous collection of Orthodox hymns resulting from the unique collaboration of Vangelis with Irene Papas - two of our most famous Global Greeks!!

The haunting Ton Nymfona sou Vlepo - one of the most beautiful hymns of our Orthodox Holy Week, sung by Irene Papas, arranged by Vangelis Papathanassiou.

Xronia Polla kai Kala Vangeli! We thank you for the magnificent  music you given us! Na ziseis!