A unique personality

A great composer, politician and writer, one of the most important modern Greek composers and one of the most discussed personalities of modern Greece.

Michael (Mikis) Theodorakis was born in Chios on July 29, 1925, with a father of origin from Galata, Crete, and a mother from Cesme of Asia Minor. Due to the professional status
of his father (senior civil servant) he spent his childhood traveling to various cities in Greece, including Mytilene (1925-1928), Syros and Athens (1929), Ioannina (1930-1932), Argostoli (1933-1936), Patra (1937-1938), Pyrgos (1938-1939) and Tripolis (1939-1943).

Prior to World War II, he had discovered his love for music and wrote his first compositions, and in Tripoli, only at 17 years old, he gave his first concert by presenting his work “Kassiani”. He took part in the resistance against conquerors, while at the same time he published his first poems, with the nickname “Dinos Mais”. In the great rally of March 25, 1943, he was arrested for the first time by the Italians and was tortured – while in prison, he met Marx’s work.

He managed to escape to Athens, where he organized ELAS and performed enlightener duties in the Fifth Sector of EPON. He also fought as a replica of the Silk squadron of the 1st Battalion of New Smyrna during Dekemvriana. At the same time, he continued his studies at the Athens Conservatory, with Prof. Philoktitos Oikonomidis.

After December, he was persecuted by Read more www.ellines.com