One of the most gifted French actors, Jean-Louis Trintignant, the “fearless prosecutor” in political thriller “Z” dealing with the assassination of Greek left-wing lawmaker Grigoris Lambrakis, passed away at the age of 91. Trintignant was the actor who played the role of investigating magistrate, an analogue of Christos Sartzetakis, who …
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Scuffles between police and crowd waiting to pay respect to Mikis Theodorakis (video)
Scuffles between crowd waiting to pay respect to Mikis Theodorakis and police took place outside the chapel of the Athens Cathedral early Tuesday evening when the latter attempted to close the church as scheduled at 7 p.m. The decision to close the chapel at Athens Cathedral angered the people outside …
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Greeks pay their respect as body of Mikis Theodorakis lie in state
With a few flowers in their hands, his songs on their lips and emotions touching deeply their souls, Greeks flocked to the Athens Cathedral to pay respect to Mikis Theodorakis. People of all ages from every corner of the country gathered outside the chapel of the Cathedral on Monday afternoon. …
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Theodorakis: Dates to pay respect at Athens Cathedral changed
Another change in ceremonies to honor great composer Mikis Theodorakis as his body lie in state Monday to Wednesday and not Tuesday to Thursday as originally planned. Reason for the change is that downtown Athens will be closed due to the Rally Acropolis media reported. The body will lie to …
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Theodorakis: 3-day national mourning cut into half, burial plans land in court
Greek Prime Minister declared on Thursday a 3-day national mourning for the death of great composer Mikis Theodorakis. Then the Interior Miniister clarified that the “national mourning” would have flags flying half-mast on all public buildings and institutions and the cancellation of all public events. Friday morning, the Interior Minister …
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Iconic Greek singer Antonis Kalogiannis dies at 81
Greece is mourning one of its most iconic singers Antonis Kalogiannis, who passed away at the age of 81 on Thursday. The artist stood out for his voice with a rich facet of colors and best known as a singer of political songs, against the colonels’ dictatorship. For many years …
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Maria Farantouri with Resistance and Love songs in Carnegie Hall
For generations of Greek music fans, two names have come to symbolize the country and its social and political struggles: the internationally acclaimed singer Maria Farantouri and the composer whose music she took to the world, Mikis Theodorakis, whom most Americans know primarily through his score for Zorba the Greek. …
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Mikis Theodorakis: The Easter Lamb tradition is a “national shame!”
Famous music composer Mikis Theodorakis made an intervention ahead of the Greek Orthodox Easter and described the tradition of roasting lamb as a ‘national shame.” In a blog post, 93-year-old Theodorakis said the tradition was “barbaric” and needs to be stopped. “Easter is coming again. The days of the massacre …
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SYRIZA-MEP Manolis Glezos sharply criticizes Greek gov’t for negotiations handling
“I ask the Greek people to forgive me for contributing to this illusion.” With this phrase veteran left politician, WWII resistance fighter and SYRIZA MEP Manolis Glezos slammed the Greek government for handling the negotiations with the country’s lenders and so having changed the rhetoric of the party. In an …
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EP Schulz openly says, he would prefer a SYRIZA-To Potami coalition
President of European Parliament said it clearly: that he would prefer if PM Tsipras had a coalition with To Potami. After a meeting with Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis, Schulz told media: “For me it would be better, Mr. Tsipras had to work with To Potami and not with ANEL (Greek …
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Recent cases of censorship create concern in democratic Greece
I didn’t know there was a legal term called “preventive censorship.” It looks as if there is or there could be. It was applied by a Greek judge to ban the broadcast of an investigative report into the recent migrant boat accident that cost the life of 3 women and …
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Anagnostakis: “Old Streets I Loved and Hated Endlessly…”
The previous post about Athenians and migrants searching for food in the garbage bins reminded me of this powerful poem by Greek existential poet Manolis Anagnostakis. It is called “Old Streets” (Δρόμοι Παλιοί). Pain and despair. And lost souls in the anonymity in a city that is dead… Anagnostakis may …
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