Mikis Theodorakis commemorated in Istanbul on the 100th anniversary of his birth

The Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul organized an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, under the theme “The Music of Theodorakis: Two Peoples, One Melody.”

The event, held at the Consulate, brought together musicologist and Director of the Friends of Music Society Alexandros Charkiolakis, musicologist Valia Vraka, and publisher and co-founder of Minoa, Nazım Tokuz.

In his opening remarks, the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, Konstantinos Koutras, praised Theodorakis’s extraordinary legacy, stating:

“Through his music, Theodorakis represented not only the Greek people but all those who fight for freedom, justice, and dignity.”

Koutras described Theodorakis as a “bridge-builder” who firmly believed that art—and especially music—could serve as a unifying force where history and politics often divide. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation between Greece and Turkey, he added:

“We share common memories, cultural richness, and musical traditions. These form the foundation upon which we can build relations of friendship and mutual respect.”

Following Koutras’s address, prominent Greek and Turkish cultural figures spoke about Theodorakis’s musical legacy.

Charkiolakis highlighted the national and global significance of Theodorakis’s works, while Vraka discussed the composer’s archive, which he donated to the Friends of Music Society in 1997, and noted that the archive has been undergoing digitalization since 2005 to expand its use in educational and cultural programs.

Publisher Tokuz spoke about the recently released Turkish edition of Asterios Koutoulas’s book “From the Cells to the Concert Halls: Asking Theodorakis,” published by Minoa Bookstore.

In a video message, Turkish artist Zülfü Livaneli reflected on his friendship and collaborations with Theodorakis, emphasizing how music serves as a shared cultural language between the two nations.

In the second part of the event, Betty Harlafti, a young artist personally chosen by Theodorakis and long associated with his performances, presented a concert featuring some of his most beloved songs in Greek and other languages.