| Main Performers | Mikis Theodorakis - vocal |
| Secondary Performers | Edna O'Brien,
Petros Pandis - speakers,
Aphrodite Mannour,
Maria Farandouri - vocal |
| Orchestra or Band | Insturmental ensemble of eight (incld. three bouzoukis) |
| Set List | Set List included:
Poetry in English and Greek (Edna O'Brien, Petros Pandis),
Poems, Garcia Lorca (Maria Farandouri),
'18 songs of the Bitter Motherland by Yannos Ritso', Theodorakis |
| Performance Notes | "Mr Mikis Theodorakis the Greek composer and former communist politician, said in London last night that he was no longer a communist... "I have stopped believing in the parties and personalities who want to put themselves on top of the masses", he said. But he still urged that the Greek regime should be over-thrown by any means possible and said that democracy must be restored to the country. Mr Theodorakis is in London to perform a new work at a concert tonight at the Royal Albert Hall."
(The Times, 30 January 1973)
"Greece's chief composer-in-exile attracted a full house of 6,000 exuberant listeners last night. The effusive reaction was evidence that Mikis Theodorakis - a large man in size, legend and talent - is a folk herp to some, even while he remains a source of irritation to others, even musically...
A high point was the world premiere of '18 songs of the Bitter Motherland by Yannos Ritso', settings of poems smuggled out of a political-prisoner detention camp a few years ago. This 40 minute work, destined to join the composer's perennials, had its share of rich melodies, flights on the bouzouki, dancing rhythms, stirring anthems, bruvura climaxes and so on...When Theodorakis joined the other singers vocally in the finale, a five-minute standing ovation brought encore, even before the interval."
(The Times, 31 January 1973)
World premiere of '18 songs of the Bitter Motherland by Yannos Ritso'. |