Famous playwright Iakovos Kambanellis passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89. He was considered one of the most influential post-war Greek playwrights. He was also a poet, a lyricist and novelist.
Kambanellis was born on the island of Naxos on 1922. On 1934 his family moved to Athens due to financial hardships.
During the German Occupation he was arrested and deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1942. He was released by the allied forces om May 1945.
Upon his return to Athens, after the end of the war, he was inspired by one performance of the Art Theatre and began theatrical studies.
He authored a Mauthausen cantata with music by Mikis Theodorakis. He also authored at least 12 films and he directed two of them.
In addition, he was known as a verse writer and for his membership at the board of the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece.
Between 1950 and 2000 he wrote more than 30 plays. Among his most acclaimed works are The Tale Without a Name, The Seventh Day of The Creation and Our Grand Circus.
He also wrote the script for two iconic Greek films of the 1950s, Stella -directed by Michalis Kakoyannis- and O Drakos -directed by Nikos Koundouros.
Iakovos Kambanelis was rushed at hospital on February 4, 2011 due to complications of his long-term kidney failure.
Video – Song of Songs Theodorakis/Kambanellis/Farantouri
Video: Antonis – Theodorakis/Kambanellis/Fatantouri
Video: The fugitive – Theodorakis/Kambanellis/Farantouri
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‘Antonis’ of the Mauthausen gives me the strenght to resist authoritarian bosses! Thanks for your poems and the impressive music from Mikis Theodorakis. In my teaching I’ll use this song to explicate the moral courage you have to do the right thing in any circumstances!
so well said, Aleksander! Some songs are really inspiring and give us indeed strength to continue.