Another successful Greek Festival of Sydney came to an end last Friday, May 24, as the 2019 event closed with a spectacular tribute to Mikis Theodorakis, with the Romiosini and Beyond concert being a complete sell-out, with over 1,200 people enjoying the spectacular musical.
“This concert took the Greek Festival of Sydney and Greek culture in general to the next level. Mr Mikis Theodorakis himself asked Dimitris Basis to produce the work and to perform the songs for the Romiosini and Beyond concert and Mr Theodorakis would have been more than proud with what was delivered,” Festival Chair Nia Kateris told GCT.
Bringing Theodorakis’ music to life in the grandeur of Sydney’s City Recital Hall was international vocal soloist Dimitris Basis and internationally acclaimed orchestra conductor, composer, and arranger, and Musical Director and Conductor for the Athens Olympics, George Ellis who lead the four-piece Greek band and 40-piece orchestra.
The renowned Greek instrument the Bouzouki also featured in the second half of the concert.
Maestro George Ellis said, “Romiosini is scored for full symphony orchestra and solo voice. The orchestra for Sydney consisted of the finest musicians along with Concertmaster Dimitris Calligeros, who trained in Holland and is of Greek-Australian background. The superb vocal soloist for this performance was Dimitris Basis from Athens, of major international standing.”
“Consisting of nine songs, Mikis Theodorakis set the poetry of Yiannis Ritsos to the music of power and supplication. Via our special personal relationship with Mikis Theodorakis, it was his request for us to present the masterpiece that is Romiosini. This concert also presented popular songs written by the great maestro, it was a huge pleasure to present these songs with some of Australia’s best orchestral musicians, specially selected for this performance,” added George.
“The 2019 Greek Festival of Sydney was an outstanding success with over 6o percent of all events being a complete sell-out and that is thanks to the wonderful artists and the public who embraced the Greek culture,” concluded Nia.
*Watch the highlights here-
*All images by Nick Bourdaniotis Photography (Copyright)
