Greek singer Farantouri pays tibute to Theodorakis in Carnegie Hall

Greek singer Maria Farantouri performed on Saturday in a tribute concert to legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Farantouri has been associated with Theodorakis and his music for more than 40 years.

The Greek singer was born in Athens and has been performing ever since she was a small child. While immersing herself in the Society of Friends of Greek Music, she refined her voice and met lifelong friend and collaborator Theodorakis at the age of only 16.

Famous for her full and rich contralto voice, together with Theodorakis’ music, she influenced an entire generation with their sounds of peace.

Mikis Theodorakis and Maria Farantouri’s popular songs and albums

Albums such as The Ballad of Mauthausen, The Hostage, Romancero Gitano, and Canto General became well-known throughout Greece. The duo’s important themes of love and harmony still inspire new generations through their melodic poetry.

Internationally acclaimed, Farantouri has performed with myriad influential musicians, including world-famous guitarist John Williams, saxophonist and jazzman Charles Lloyd, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta.

With the Israel Philharmonic, she appeared at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens and UNESCO’s millennium celebration in Paris, as well in Israel in 2014.

On Sept. 23, 2004, the late Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos, recognizing Farantouri’s contribution to Greek culture and music, awarded her the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix.

In 2014, she was honored with the Premier Tenco in San Remo, Ital while, three years later, she was awarded the Liberpress International Award in Girona, Spain.

Through a career that spans more than 40 years, Farantouri has shared her talent around the globe. From humble beginnings to the grandeur of Carnegie Hall, she is more than just a voice of a generation; she continually provides a hope that spans time and worldly borders.