Maria Farantouri

Biography

Maria Farantouri was born in Nea Ionia, a suburb of Athens. She was still a teenager when she appeared under the direction of Mikis Theodorakis at a concert in Pireaus, in 1963. The composer is thrilled by her interpretations and claims that she is "the perfect interpreter of his music".

From 1963-1967 Maria tours Greece with Theodorakis and makes several records. In 1966 she tours the USSR, again with Mikis Theodorakis, her Mentor.

In 1967 she leaves Greece and from 1967-1970 she gives thousands of concerts all over the world, singing the songs of Theodorakis. During this time Maria becomes a "Symbol of Freedom and Hope" for Greek people resisting silently or loudly the military junta.

In 1970 Mikis Theodorakis is released from prison and leaves Greece. Maria and Mikis are re-united and they start a series of concerts all over the world.

"State of Siege" and "March of Spirit" are recorded in 1970, the latter with the London Symphony Orchestra under the composer's direction.

From 1970-1973 Maria and Mikis tour the world: South America, Europe, Israel, Middle East, Scandinavia, Mexico, United States and Canada. During this time Maria makes several recordings and appears also in hundreds of concerts and festivals all over the world.

In 1973 "Canto General", an oratorio of Mikis Theodorakis based on the poem of Pablo Neruda is being presented in France at the "Festival of Humanities", with Maria Farantouri as soloist.

In 1974 the much hated junta collapses and Maria returns to Greece. For the following three years Maria presents the works of Mikis Theodorakis for the first time in Greece after the seven-year exile.

In 1975 "Canto General" is presented in an open Stadium in front of a thrilled 50,000 audience. The work is recorded live for a second time.

In 1976 she gives a concert in London in Support of Chili and the struggle of Chilean people for freedom. She also starts her own tour again, with concerts in Greece, Europe, United States and Canada, East Germany and Russia.

The following year (1977) she tours Germany, Australlia, England, France, Greece, and Russia. She apperas at the Lycabettus Festival and makes recording with Manos Hadjidakis.

In 1978 she continues her own tour with her orchestra in Greece and Europe. She also apperas with Mikis Theodorakis in the United States. She also appears at the International Festival of Youth in Cuba. During this year she also makes several recordings.

in 1979 her tours take her to Europe, Greece, Turkey and East Germany. She records "Neighborhoods of the World" of Mikis Theodorakis-Yannis Ritsos. She gives concerts with songs of Bertolt Brecht and records these songs with arrangements of Henri Kritsel. She also appears at the "1st International Festival of Political Music" in East Berlin.

In the years that follow, in addition to Mikis Theodorakis, Maria Farantouri collaborates with composers Manos Hadjidakis and appears in several concerts under his direction, and makes recordings with works of Michalis Grigoriou, the Turkish composer Z. Livanelli. She also "Protest Songs" from all over the world. She appears with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta singing the song cycle "Mauthausen" of Mikis Theodorakis-Iakovos Kampanellis and she also collaborates with the Cuban composer-arranger Leo Brower.