MIKIS THEODORAKIS - 100 - MIKIS THEODORAKIS

15 MAY 2026, 19:00

Georgios and Chrysavgi Sainopoulos Cultural Centre Hall

Kleombrotou 18, Sparta

 

 

The Friends of Music Society, the Sainopouleio Foundation and MELISSA Publications are delighted to invite you to the official presentation of the commemorative volume MIKIS THEODORAKIS - 100 - MIKIS THEODORAKIS, edited by Valia Vraka and Alexandros Charkiolakis, on Friday, 15 May 2026 at 19:00 in the Georgios and Chrysavgi Sainopoulos Cultural Centre Hall. Speakers will be Dr. Metaxia Papapostolou, philologist and author, Kyriaki Chelioti, director of the National Conservatory of Sparta, and the publication's editor Valia Vraka. The event will be coordinated by Alexandros Charkiolakis, editor of the publication. 

 

 

The album summarises Mikis Theodorakis' life in ten chapters, which thematically present his journey through his artistic and political career. Through rare documents --manuscripts, scores, letters, notes, photographs, posters and programmes-- a life's journey unfolds. Each chapter includes rich photographic material and a distinctive text, signed by a significant personality who accompanied or collaborated with Theodorakis. These voices, some reflective, some moving and deeply human, lend a special experiential dimension to the archival material. The book is a journey into his dense and polyphonic world, as recorded through the documents of his personal archive.

 

As a gift for readers, the luxurious cloth-bound album is accompanied by two unreleased audio documents from the Mikis Theodorakis Archive, inserted as a vinyl record on the cover, revealing the composer's special relationship with his parents.

 

 

As we read in the prologue, "The album Mikis Theodorakis 100 is not merely a retrospective of the hundred years since his birth. It is a journey into his dense and polyphonic world, as recorded through the documents of his personal archive, which he entrusted to the 'Lilian Voudouri' Music Library of the Friends of Music Society in 1997." And further down, "(...) it does not seek to close a cycle, but to continue moving in a straight line. As a natural extension of the Mikis Theodorakis Archive, it serves to remind us that memory is not the past, but a dynamic present. Theodorakis' life and work, captured in every document, every word and sound, invite us to active reception and creative continuity. In an era where our relationship with cultural heritage is being redefined, his work remains a living dialogue between art and history, between the creator and society."

 

Through the pages of the volume, known and unknown aspects of Mikis Theodorakis' personality and work, both within and beyond Greece, are illuminated, as reflected in his rich archive. Handwritten scores and texts, published and previously unknown photographs, his personal and professional letters, excerpts from his interviews, rare recordings, come alive with a visualised narrative and revive the grandeur of the great Greek Mikis Theodorakis.

 

 

 

This bilingual edition is prefaced, in addition to the two editors, by the Minister of Culture Dr. Lina Mendoni, Dr. Peter Hanser-Strecker, representative of Schott Music Publishers who manage the composer's intellectual property rights, and the famous Turkish composer and personal friend of Theodorakis, Zülfü Livaneli. The album spans ten chapters, which thematically trace the composer's journey, highlighting his artistic and political path. Each chapter is accompanied by a distinctive text, signed by a significant personality who accompanied or collaborated with Theodorakis. These voices, some reflective, some moving and deeply human, lend a special experiential dimension to the archive material. Among two original texts by Mikis himself, the volume contains the texts: "Music for the Stage, Music for the Screen" by George Monemvasitis, "The Operas of Theodorakis, the Triumph of Lyricality" by Gail Holst, "A Life with Mikis" by Makis Matsas, "Mikis Theodorakis Without Borders" by Stefania Merakou, "Freedom and Responsibility. The Formation of Mikis Theodorakis' Political Personality" by Christoforos Argyropoulos, "The Renaissance Theodorakis" by Kostas Georgousopoulos, and "Mikis Theodorakis and the Megaron" by Alexandros Charkiolakis and Valia Vraka. A special place in the volume is occupied by the original text by Odysseas Elytis titled "Poetry and Music", written in 1965 on the occasion of the musical setting of "Axion Esti". 

 

 

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Presentation of the commemorative volume 

Friday 15 May, 19:00

Georgios and Chrysavgi Sainopoulos Cultural Centre Hall

 

For orders, please consult the website of MELISSA Publications
https://www.melissabooks.com/