| Main Performers | John Neville,
Patrick Wymark,
Janet Suzman,
Joss Ackland,
Ian McKellen,
Glenda Jackson,
Cleo Laine,
Alan Bates,
Mai Zetterling,
Nyree Dawn Porter - speakers
Maria Farantouri,
F Voutsinos,
J Theocharis -vocals,
Melina Mercouri - vocal, speaker,
John Williams - guitar |
| Orchestra or Band | English Chamber Orchestra |
| Choirs | Gwalia Male Choir,
New Opera Chorus |
| Set List | 'Suite No.2. for Orchestra', M Theodorakis (English Chamber Orchestra),
'Four Songs', M Theodorakis (Maria Farandouri, John Williams),
In A Great Greek Colony, 200 BC', C Kavafis ( John Neville),
'March of The Spirit', M Theodorakis, A Sikelianos (Maria Farandouri, F Voutsinos, J Theocharis, Gwalia Male Choir, English Chamber Orchestra)
INTERVAL
'Guitar Music', M Theodorakis, K Arnold (John Williams),
'For The Attention of The Censor, Edict of Censorship' (Patrick Wymark),
'Antigone', Sophocles (extract) (Janet Suzman, Joss Ackland),
'Students' Trial, Athens 1969' (Ian McKellen, Patrick Wymark),
'Trojan Women', Euripides (extract) (Glenda Jackson, M.Theodorakis, English Chamber Orchestra, New Opera Chorus),
'Philoctetes', Sophocles (extract) (Minos Volonakis, Alan Bates),
'Memory I', G Seferis, (John Neville),
'Eccleciazoussai', Aristophanes (extract) (Mai Zetterling, Joss Ackland),
Two Songs (Melina Mercouri),
'Lysistrata', Aristophanes (M Theodorakis, Nyree Dawn Porter, F Voutsinos, New Opera Chorus, the Gwalia Male Choir, English Chamber Orchestra) |
| Performance Notes | The event was advertised as "A great opportunity for all lovers of Greece to participate in an evening of marvellous entertainment; register their support fot the struggle for the restroration of democracy in the land where democracy was born; provide funds for the families of political prisoners and for anti-junta publicity inside and outside Greece." It was also billed as "Free Greek Art"
UK Premiere of 'Suite No.2. for Orchestra', M Theodorakis, and world premiere of 'March of the Spirits,' Mikis Theodorakis. The latter was reported to have been composed whilst he was in captivity and smuggled out for this performance.
The event also featured a Greek Drama Section, devised and directed by Minos Volanakis, and featuring Nyree Dawn Porter, Cleo Laine, Melina Mercouri, Janet Suzman, Mai Zetterling, Alan Bates, Ian McKellen, and John Neville.
A letter from Mikis Theodorakis, the composer, who had been released from prison in Greece, was read to the audience by Melina Mercouri, stating that he pledged to continue his fight against the junta.
"First performance of Theodorakis's work (based on Sikelianos' poem) The March of the Spirit, with Maria Farandouri, conducted by Evdoros Demetriou. The second part of the evening, For the Attention of the Censor, was devoted mostly to banned Greek drama and the absurd preventive (and pre-publication) censorship. Even the subversive plays of Ancient Greek authors were liable to be censored or banned, although Alexis Minotis, director of the National Theatre, would claim that it was not the texts of the tragedies that lead to their cancellation in 1967, but the music by Theodorakis. The evening featured Ian McKellen, John Neville, Janet Suzman, Patrick Wymark, Alan Bates, Mai Zetterling, Joss Ackland, Glenda Jackson and Nyree Dawn Porter. There was a message (in the programme) from Theodorakis in Oropos Prison, sent before his release on 13 April, I call on the untamable Greek youth to become inspired by the words of our national poet and turn into action his patriotic command Let us raise the sun over Greece'." (https://corfublues.blogspot.com/2010/01/maria-farandouri-london-concerts-1970.html) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1970/51) |