The famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis (Mikis Theodorakis) made the soundtrack for the 1964 classic film “Zorba the Greek” in 1964. He was an idol who resisted the former military government. He died in Athens at the age of 96 years old.
A sort of Prolific talent As a political maverick, Theodorakis is revered in his home country for his inspiring music and resistance during the military government that was in power from 1967 to 1974.
After the news of his death on Thursday, the Greek flag was lowered at half-mast on the Acropolis, while the Parliament observed a minute of silence.
But Theodorakis may be famous for his movie titles, including Z in 1969 and Serpico in 1973. His works range from operas to choral music and pop songs, providing the soundtrack to life in his country.
In recent years, he suffered from heart disease and had previously been treated in the hospital.
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni (Lina Mendoni) said: “Today, we have lost part of the Greek soul. Mikis Theodorakis, our Mikis, teachers, intellectuals, radicals have passed away.”
President Katerina Sakellaropoulou praised him as a “Pan-Hellenic” and “a universal artist, a valuable asset of our music culture.”
“He was given a rich and fruitful life. He lived with enthusiasm, dedicated his life to music, art, our country and people, and dedicated to the ideas of freedom, justice, equality and social solidarity.”
Prime Minister Kiriakos Mizotakis announced three days of national mourning. At the Cabinet meeting, he said: “Mikis Theodorakis is now entering eternity.
“His voice was suppressed, and with him, the entire Greek culture was suppressed.”
Theodorakis was born in a Cretan family on the island of Chios in the northern Aegean Sea on July 29, 1925. During World War II, at the age of 17, he joined the opposition to the German and Italian occupation of Greece. Resistance movement.
After completing his music studies at the Paris Conservatory, Theodorakis was elected to Parliament in 1964 as a representative of the left.That year, he also laid down the theme of the Greek Zorba Sirtaki Later it was called “Zorba Dance.”
When the dictator took control of the government in the 1967 coup, Theodorakis was one of the first left-wing politicians to be arrested. Pardoned a year later, he participated in the establishment of the Secret Patriotic Front, which led to another detention and ban on his work.
Even in his later years, he maintained an active interest in Greek politics and its economic crisis. He lived in his home under the Acropolis and spent most of his time away from the public eye.
He highly criticized the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, accusing the latter of agreeing to implement EU-authorized austerity reforms after taking office in 2015, betraying his left-wing roots.
