Manos Hadjidakis

Walking through the bustling streets of central Athens, whether as a resident or a visitor, or taking in the view of the sprawling, densely built capital from a balcony on one of its nearby hills, it’s nearly impossible to grasp that less than two centuries ago, this city was merely a tiny dot on the map.

A star is born, not made, and has no age. This realization prevailed in the minds of all of us fortunate enough to attend Marinella’s concert last Saturday evening, in the beautiful courtyard of the Moni Toplou.

Minos EMI/Universal is releasing a double CD album in 249 countries of previously unpublished Greek songs recorded by the legendary Nana Mouskouri from the mid-1950s and the early 1960s at the National Radio Foundation.

Pavlos Samios, who passed away so unexpectedly at the age of 73 earlier this month, was a man full of life. A man who was humble and kind. He never enjoyed talking about himself. He never had to. His career, his work, and most importantly his spirit, were testament enough.

Record producer Takis Lambropoulos, credited with revolutionizing the Greek music industry in the 1960s and 70s from the helm of the Columbia Gramophone Company Greece, has died at the age of 91, it was announced on Friday.

The Culture Ministry is seeking the listing of the house of prominent 20th century Greek poet and translator Nikos Gatsos as a monument. 

With tickets having sold out on the nights announced to date, composer and conductor Stavros Xarchakos has added more to his run of shows focused on laiko composers at Gazarte in downtown Athens. Xarchakos will conduct a seven-member orchestra of top soloists who will also accompany him on vocals.

Singer Kyveli Kastoriadis travels from Paris to Athens to perform with guitarist Orestis Kalampalikis, who has arranged a program of works inspired by portraits from the B&E Goulandris Foundation's collection. The set includes works by Serge Gainsbourg, Astor Piazzolla, Manos Hadjidakis and Barbara and focuses on music as a reflection of human psychology.