Transcript Manos Hadjidakis

Manos Hadjidakis
1925-1994
Composer
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
• He is widely popular and can be credited
with the introduction of bouzouki music
into mainstream culture.
• He shook the musical establishment by
delivering his legendary lecture on
rembetika, the urban folk songs that
flourished in Greek cities,
Manos Hadjidakis
• wrote popular "pop"
songs and movie
soundtracks.
• in 1955 wrote the
score for Michael
Cacoyannis' film
Stella, with actress
Melina Mercouri
singing the movie's
trademark song.
Manos Hadjidakis
• in 1959, met Nana Mouskouri, his first superbly
skilled vocalist who shaped the sounds of his
music with her uniquely beautiful voice.
• it was 1960 that brought him international
success, as his score for Jules Dassn's film
Never on Sunday (Pote tin Kyriaki) won him an
Academy Award, with The Lads from Piraeus
(Ta Paidia tou Peiraia) becoming a huge
worldwide hit.
Manos Hadjidakis
• in 1962, he produced the musical Dream
Street (Odos Oneiron) and completed his
score for Aristophanes' Birds (Ornithes),
another Art Theater production.It was also
used later by Maurice Béjart's 20th
Century Ballets. He also wrote the music
for the song "All Alone Am I" which Arthur
Altman added English lyrics to and gave to
Brenda Lee.
• He completed several more major
compositions, including Rhythmology for
solo piano, his orchestral compilation
Gioconda's Smile (produced by Quincy
Jones), and the pinnacle of his musical
achievement, the song cycle Magnus
Eroticus (Megalos Erotikos), in which he
used ancient, medieval and modern Greek
poems, as well as an excerpt from the Old
Testament book "Wisdom of Solomon".
Manos Hadjidakis
• became active in public life and assumed
a number of positions in the Athens State
Orchestra (KOA), National Opera (ELS),
and the National Radio (ERT).
• in 1985 launched his own record company
"Seirios" (Sirius).
• in 1989 founded and directed the
Orchestra of Colours (Orhistra ton
Chromaton), a small symphonic orchestra.
Manos Hadjidakis