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MELODIA 99.2 CASSETTES
at the Herod Atticus Odeon

THE CASSETTE OF MELODIA 99.2 FOR

GRIGORIS MPITHIKOTSIS

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Herod Atticus Odeon
Start time: 21:00

Artistic Supervision
GIORGOS NTALARAS

A great tribute to the voice that marked our history.

Performers:
FOTEINI VELESIOTOU
YANNIS DIONYSIOU
YANNIS KOTSIRAS
DIMITRIS BASIS
GRIGORIS MPITHIKOTSIS
GIORGOS NTALARAS
BABIS STOKAS
ASPASIA STRATIGOU

Featuring:
VOCAL ENSEMBLE "RHYTHMOS"

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"The voice of Mpithikotsis is the sum of the voices of all people."

Mikis Theodorakis

With a great tribute to the incomparable voice of Grigoris Mpithikotsis, Melodia 99.2 returns with Giorgos Ntalaras on Wednesday, October 4 at the Herod Atticus Odeon.

A tribute to the authentic and genuine folk voice that indelibly marked our history and became the means through which the most significant works of Greek intellectualism reached the Greek people and became part of our heritage.

With the artistic supervision of Giorgos Ntalaras and performers: Foteini Valesiotou, Yannis Dionysiou, Yannis Kotsiras, Dimitris Basis, Grigoris Mpithikotsis, Giorgos Ntalaras, Babis Stokas, and Aspasia Stratigou, along with the participation of the vocal ensemble "Rhythmοs", Melodia 99.2 aims to illuminate the most significant moments of the great performer, musician, and composer Grigoris Mpithikotsis.

"The only one who sang my songs with true passion, just as I wrote them."
Markos Vamvakaris

Doric, genuinely folk and noble. "The Sir" of Greek music, he started writing his first songs with the guitar his brother gave him. The songs of Markos Vamvakaris were the ones that deeply moved him and sparked his great love for folk music. With the voice of Grigoris Bithikotsis, he revived the rembetiko songs in the recording industry for the first time during the 1960s.

However, his collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis and his unmatched performances in works such as "The Epitaph" and "Romiosyne" based on poems by Yannis Ritsos and "Axion Esti" based on poems by Odysseas Elytis were what sealed his presence in Greek music.

With his characteristic "woody" voice and a wide vocal range, he left his mark on post-war Greece with his performances. The innovative work of Mikis Theodorakis, with the folk music settings of great poets, traveled throughout Greece through the voice of Grigoris Bithikotsis.

"Grigoris, you are the greatest singer of our century."
Manos Hadjidakis

A significant moment in his career was his collaboration with Manos Hadjidakis. Songs such as "I'm a vulture without wings," "Time goes by," "There's a dance in Lavrio," "Talk to me," and more stand out.

He also collaborated with other great composers, such as Stavros Xarhakos ("Apone Zoi," "Aspri Mera kai gia mas"), Apostolos Kaldaras, Markos Vamvakaris, Vasilis Tsitsanis, Giorgos Mitsakis, Dimos Moutsis, Akis Panou, and others.

He wrote more than 200 songs, many of which he performed himself. "Trekloritsos" was his first recorded song with his own voice, followed by countless popular successes with his signature and through valuable collaborations, such as the classics "Ena Omorfo Amaksi me Dio Aloga" with lyrics by Kostas Virvos, "Episimi Agapimeni" with lyrics by Eleni Liakou, and "Tou Votanikou o magkas" with lyrics by Lakis Tsolis.

Giorgos Dalaras on Grigoris Bithikotsis

"In my childhood, his voice inspired awe and irresistible attraction in me. I loved the rembetika with the old performances by all those great singers.

But Bithikotsis interpreted them differently. Without losing anything from their history, he brought them to my era, he 'cleansed' them."

His interpretations of Mikis Theodorakis' songs were the second shock.

Grigoris Bithikotsis was not just a very good folk composer and a great singer. He was the emblem of our people. He was a folk hero!"

The Melodia 99.2 Cassette for Grigoris Bithikotsis
comes to remind and honor the great voicethat was revered bythe greatest Greek composers and poets.

"The voice of Bithikotsis is the sum of the voices of all people," Mikis Theodorakis said in 1961, responding to those who accused him of not respecting Ritsos by giving "The Epitaph" to the folk singer.

After the presentation of Romiosyne at the "Kentriko" theater in 1966, Manos Hadjidakis said, "Grigoris, you are the greatest singer of our century."

"Bithikotsis is the only one who can sing true rembetiko. The only one who sang my songs as they were written," said Markos Vamvakaris.

Odysseas Elytis
"The voice of Grigoris Bithikotsis has imprinted an entire era. It is closely linked to the prime of Greek music and the expression of the modern Greek psyche. Bithikotsis is a moment that transcended time and will always resonate in our ears and in our hearts."

Yannis Ritsos
"Grigoris Bithikotsis is a great, authentic, folk singer. He possesses strength and clarity. His voice shone in Theodorakis' songs, and Theodorakis' music also shone with Bithikotsis' voice. His voice doesn't get lost, doesn't fade away, not even a syllable dims. The great poetic word, along with Theodorakis' music and Bithikotsis' voice, finds its greatest and most substantial expression. Within his voice, all the sorrow of the Greek people, all his passion, and all his bravery are evident in all their greatness!"

Iakovos Kampanelis
"Bithikotsis' voice was an amazing coincidence because it had this untrained and unadorned quality. It was a folk voice. The essence of the folk muse. Made to bridge the lyrics and the melody with the people."

We warmly thank Grigoris Bithikotsis' family for providing the archive and giving their consent for the concert.

The Melodia 99.2 CASSETTE FOR GRIGORIS BITHIKOTSIS

Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Start time: 21:00
Location: Herod Atticus Odeon

Artistic Direction: Giorgos Dalaras

Performing (in alphabetical order): Fotini Velestiotou, Giannis Dionysiou, Giannis Kotsiras, Dimitris Basis, Grigoris Bithikotsis, Giorgos Dalaras, Babis Stokas, Aspasia Stratigou.

Participation of the "Rhythm" Vocal Ensemble conducted by Nikos Chiotogloudou.

CAST

Giorgos Papachristoudis: arranger & piano
Apostolos Valaroutsos: classical guitar
Manos Grysmolakis: accordion
Aris Zervas: cello
Vasilis Korakakis: bouzouki
Kostas Konstantinou: bass
Vangelis Mahairas: bouzouki
Thymios Papadopoulos: wind instruments
Stratos Samiotis: percussion
Giannis Stamatiannis: bouzouki
Grigoris Syntridis: drums
Marinos Tranoudakis: percussion - drums
Giorgos Chatzopoulos: acoustic guitar

PHOTO DESIGN & HANDLING: Giannis Maniatakos

FOH SOUND ENGINEER: Vangelis Koulouris

STAGE SOUND ENGINEER: Antonis Zachopoulos

POSTER PHOTOGRAPHY: Takis Pananidis

PRODUCTION: FRONTSTAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Presale: TICKETSERVICES.GR