Last Wednesday, the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens hosted a grand tribute concert celebrating the legendary lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos. Accompanied by renowned singer Giorgos Dalaras, Papadopoulos, a central figure in Greece’s musical golden age, was honoured for his exceptional career.
The concert featured a lineup of distinguished Greek artists, including Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Melina Aslanidou, Glykeria, Stelios Dionysiou, Eleonora Zouganeli, Melina Kana, Yannis Kotsiras, Kostas Makedonas, Christos Mastoras, Minos Matsas, Manolis Mitsias, Dimitris Basis, Miltos Paschalidis, Antonis Remos, and Maria Farantouri.
At 88, Papadopoulos has penned lyrics for approximately 1,200 songs and collaborated with many of Greece’s most celebrated musicians and composers, such as Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Xarhakos, Manos Loizos, Stavros Kouyioumtzis, Mimis Plessas, Christos Nikolopoulos, Stelios Kazantzidis, Grigoris Bithikotsis, Marinella, and Viki Moscholiou.
The concert, which Papadopoulos inaugurated, featured performances of his iconic songs "Poverty" and "Aponi Zoi," with individual artists showcasing their renditions of his notable works. Papadopoulos was visibly moved, and the audience was treated to a vibrant yet nostalgic celebration night.
A highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance of Haroula Alexiou, who, accompanied by Miltos Paschalidis, performed "The Leader" and emotionally acknowledged Manos Loizos. Alexiou’s heartfelt tribute elicited enthusiastic applause and significant social media buzz.
The audience included Papadopoulos’s family—his wife Raya Mouzenidou, daughter Hyakinthis Papadopoulos, and son Notis Papadopoulos—as well as notable figures such as Hellenic Republic President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, and Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Also in attendance were Makis Matsas and his wife Roula, Margarita Matsas and her husband Giorgos Fragogiannis, Kostas Laliotis, Maria Damanaki, Milena Apostolakis, Kostas Bakoyiannis and Sia Kosionis, Alexis Papachelas, Elli Stai, Anna Panagiotarea, Christos Koutras, Yiannis Dsounos, Stavros Theodorakis, and George Lianis.
This tribute concert was part of the "Together We Can" initiative, with proceeds supporting environmental protection efforts, including purchasing saplings and other eco-friendly actions.