Vocalist Dimitris Basis
Conductor George Ellis
It was another packed evening at the QPAC Concert Hall, but with a difference. Everyone seemed to know one another and were Greek. Just days after Brisbane’s much-loved Greek celebration, Paniyiri Festival, all were there to celebrate their Greek heritage in a special concert paying tribute to the popular music of Mikis Theodorakis. A staple at any Greek party where the Ouzo and wine is flowing and the mediterranean hospitality centres around a feast. Outside of the greek community, Theodorakis is most famous for the iconic soundtrack to the movie Zorba the Greek (1964). The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George is also celebrating its ninetieth year, lending further jubilation to the Greek celebrations.
The first half of the concert was devoted to the nine poems of Romiosini (ρωμιοσύνη) meaning ‘Greekness’, based on the claim that the Greeks are the Romioi, heirs to the Roman Empire. The poems of the Romiosini were written by the prolific writer Yiannis Ritsos and published in 1954, who was imprisoned after the civil war and his books were previously banned as he was a communist revolutionary. The composer Mikis Theodorakis stated that he composed the now iconic music to accompany the poems in “an attempt to be musically worthy of the sanctity of this work, which for Greeks is national gospel of our recent history.”
Two further icons participated in the international Greek concert. Dimitris Basis, the Greek vocalist had a rich rounded voice that was worthy of his successful singing and recording career, selling over 120,000 copies of his first album internationally. He introduced the evening in Greek, but unfortunately no-one bothered to translate for the few sole English speakers in the audience, like myself. However, he was given an effusive welcome by the Greek audience, worthy of Apollo! The internationally acclaimed Australian orchestral conductor George Ellis, who conducted for both the Sydney and Athens Olympics Opening Ceremonies, was also heartily welcomed. Throughout the evening his conducting was vibrant and energetic as he swayed his hips to the bouzouki’s, and during the song Tree the Tree he was bouncing almost a foot in the air on the podium, such was the energy from the music and the audience.
The Greek music was played by an interesting mix of the Philharmonia Orchestra, lead by Leah Zweck, and a small Greek band of two bouzouki’s, guitar and drums. The audience was an integral part of the evening as they were encouraged to sing and clap along with the music by Dimitri. I’m sure I was the only person in the audience who did not know the words to both the Romiosini poems and the popular Greek songs played in the second half, as it was “all Greek to me!” We all joined in with the rhythmic clapping and foot stamping for the fun evening, reminding me of my Club Med holidays on the Greek islands, minus the plate smashing… The evening was a vibrant Hellenic spectacle celebrating a proud and historic nation enjoyed by all.
Concert Hall, QPAC
22nd May, 2019
A Vibrant Hellenic Spectacle Celebrating a Proud Historic Nation.
Photograph by Dr Gemma Regan
Dr Gemma Regan