Thanos Mikroutsikos

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Thanos Mikroutsikos (2018)

Thanos Mikroutsikos ( Greek Θάνος Μικρούτσικος , born April 13, 1947 in Patras ; † December 28, 2019 in Athens ) was one of the leading composers of Greek folk and classical music. He mixed a number of musical styles in his work, from folk music to electronic music. Mikroutsikos composed a large number of songs that have their roots in poems by Greek or foreign poets such as Euripides , Aristophanes , Konstantinos Kavafis , Giorgos Seferis , Jannis Ritsos , Odysseas Elytis and Nikos Kavvadias as well as Bertolt Brecht , Nazim Hikmet , Wolf Biermann and Maurice Maeterlinck .

Thanos Mikroutsikos has also been politically active since the 1960s. During the period of the military dictatorship (1967 to 1974) he was persecuted by the regime for his anti-dictatorial stance. When the junta fell, he continued his political work, especially in the early years of the restoration of democracy. After the parliamentary elections in October 1993, he became a member of the PASOK party , which formed the new government, and deputy minister of culture. From 1994 to 1996 he was Minister for Culture .

Works (selection)

  • Musical act for Brecht for two male voices, two clarinets and a piano (text: Bertolt Brecht ), 1972–78
  • Cantata for Makronisos for female and male voices, small orchestra and tape (text: Jannis Ritsos ), 1976–82
  • Study for Wladimir Majakowski for voice and small orchestra (text: Wladimir Majakowski ), 1976–82
  • Euripides IV for speaker, soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, bassoon, trumpet, horn and piano (text: Euripides ), 1979
  • The Moonlight Sonata for voice and piano (text: Jannis Ritsos), 1979–81
  • Preludes for Guitar, 1981
  • The Old Man of Alexandria, song cycle for voice, mandolin and piano (text: Konstantinos Kavafis ), 1982
  • Opera for one (flutist) for flute, 1983–84
  • Duo for alto saxophone and electric bass, 1985
  • Das Meer for string orchestra and trumpet, 1991
  • The return of Helena, opera in one act in six acts based on a libretto by Christos Lambrakis (with poems by Jannis Ritsos) for nine voices, mixed choir, orchestra and a trio, 1992–93
  • Return to the Future 1 for clarinet and marimba, 2003
  • The sea smiles from over there for mezzo and string quartet (text: Federico García Lorca ), 2009

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Mikroutsikos, Thanos
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek composer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH April 13, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH Patras , Greece
DATE OF DEATH December 28, 2019
Place of death Athens