Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GREEK GIG GUIDE
In summer Greece's leading acts perform in outdoor concerts around the country.
In winter they perform in clubs in Athens, Thessaloniki and large regional towns.
Authentic folk music is harder to find. The best bet is at regionalpanigyria(open-
air festivals) during summer. Look for posters, often around telephone and power
poles, or ask around.
Athens' live music scene includes intimaterembetika(blues) clubs and glitzy,
expensive, cabaret-style venues known asbouzoukia. Second-ratebouzoukia
clubs are referred to asskyladhika(doghouses) - apparently because the crooning
singers resemble a whining dog.Bouzoukiaare the venues for flower-throwing
(plate-smashing is rare these days), wanton (and expensive) displays of exuber-
ance, excess andkefi(good spirits or mojo). Opa!
Classical Music & Opera
Despite classical music and opera appealing to an (albeit growing) minority of Greeks,
this field is where Greece has made the most significant international contribution, most
notably composers Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hatzidakis and opera diva Maria Cal-
las.
Dimitris Mitropoulos led the New York Philharmonic in the 1950s, while distin-
guished composers include Stavros Xarhakos and the late Yannis Xenakis. Leading con-
temporary performers include pianist Dimitris Sgouros, tenor Mario Frangoulis and sop-
ranos Elena Kelessidi and Irini Tsirakidou.
The country's concert halls and major cultural festivals such as the Hellenic Festival
offer rich international programs, while opera buffs have the Greek National Opera and
Syros' Apollo Theatre.
Byzantine music is mostly heard in Greek churches these days, though Byzantine choirs
perform in concerts in Greece and abroad, and the music has influenced folk music.
Greek Dance
Greeks have danced since the dawn of Hellenism. Some folk dances derive from the ritu-
al dances performed in ancient temples - ancient vases depict a version of the well-
known syrtos folk dance. Dancing was later part of military education; in times of occu-
pation it became an act of defiance and a covert way to keep fit.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search