Dioni Vertzayas is set to mesmerise audiences in Τα Κινηματογραφικά: Songstresses of the Golden Age of Greek Cinema, a concert celebrating the timeless music of Greece’s cinematic golden era.
Ahead of the performance on Sunday, May 11 in the prestigious Verbrugghen Hall at Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music, Dioni speaks to The Greek Herald about her eclectic international career, the influence of her Greek heritage, and the honour of bringing these beloved songs to life alongside conductor George Ellis.
Your career spans a range of musical genres and international stages — tell us a bit about this.
Yes – from Electronica (my band Astyplaz with whom we have toured the U.S and Canada), jazz, soul and funk, Spanish, French chansons and Latin, to musical theatre and of course, Greek repertoire. This includes original material, albums and singles, international compilations (Buddha Bar XI) which received a lot of radio airplay. As for the stages – from the historic Olympia Theatre (Maria Callas) and the Ancient stadium of Delphi – to the awesome industrial venue Usine In Montreal and other notable venues throughout Europe.
What does it mean to you, personally and professionally, to perform the songs of the Golden Age of Greek cinema?
Firstly, I’d like to thank the Greek Festival for this opportunity and share my excitement to perform in this ambitious project and delighted to be back in the city in which I was born and raised in. On both a personal and professional level, I am honoured to be working with the esteemed conductor George Ellis and his orchestra for the first time, together with the incomparable George Doukas with whom I have enjoyed working with numerous times over the years. We will be presenting these iconic songs in a different and classical approach – notably with a symphony orchestra.
How has your Greek heritage shaped your identity as an artist, and how do you see that influence coming through in this concert?
Undoubtedly it has shaped me as I chose Greece as my base where I have lived for many years now; as for this concert in particular, well I think without the knowledge of the Greek language and having been exposed to the music from a young age it would be difficult to interpret and understand the songs and their nuances. My heritage means everything to me.
The music of Hatzidakis and other iconic composers carries deep emotional resonance for many Greeks — how do you prepare to interpret and honour such beloved material on stage?
I suppose being well-versed with their music and knowing the material well, you can only hope that one’s unique and individual interpretation will do justice to honouring these compositions. One of the songs (a crowd favourite) which was composed by George Katsaros, I actually had the privilege of working and touring with for a few years.
You’ll be performing in the historic Verbrugghen Hall with conductor George Ellis — what can audiences expect from this collaboration, and how have you approached blending classical performance with cinematic nostalgia?
The arrangements have been carefully considered and re-worked so as to provide this nostalgic and simultaneously cinematic feel. The use of a classical orchestra (together with a rhythm section and bouzouki/baglama) I believe helps achieve this. Also, I have a background in theatre so I hope I can bring this element to the stage!
For those less familiar with this era of Greek cinema, what makes these songs timeless and relevant today?
Most of these songs are still played in Greece to this day so those unfamiliar with the films may have actually heard the songs. A lot of themes are relevant and will always be current (eg. rich versus poor). These songs shaped the attitudes of the Greek migrants who came to Australia and were passed on to succeeding generations – that is why Greek Australian society is more conservative than the society in Greece.
What do you hope the audience walks away with after experiencing Τα Κινηματογραφικά, especially those in the diaspora who may be reconnecting with their cultural roots through music?
I hope they experience most emotions, which I believe is the mark of a successful concert. To be moved, to feel joy, to make them ponder and walk away with a general feeling of enjoyment.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you for the interview and we hope you enjoy the concert.
Event Details:
- WHAT: Τα Κινηματογραφικά: Songstresses of the Golden Age of Greek Cinema
- WHEN: 11 May 2025 | 6:30 PM
- WHERE: Verbrugghen Hall, Conservatorium of Music, 1 Conservatorium Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
- PERFORMERS: George Ellis (Conductor), Dioni Vertzayas (Vocalist)
- TICKET PRICE: From $60 + Booking Fee
- Tickets can be purchased via the following link: https://shorturl.at/ZugRa
