On this day in 1939, Greek composer Stavros Xarchakos was born

·

Composer Stavros Xarchakos is one of the pillars of artistic folk music, along with Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hadjidakis. Now 80 years old, Stavros remains a revered composer in Greek music.

Stavros Xarchakos, originally from Mani, was born on March 14, 1939, in Athens. He studied at the Athens Conservatory and continued his studies in Paris and at the Juilliard School in New York. 

Although he intended to engage in ‘deep and serious’ music, he wrote music and songs for theatre and cinema from a very young age, with success in the early 1960s.

His music has been recorded to 42 albums, has been used in 21 movies and for 15 TV productions. Internationally he is known as the composer for the Rembetiko film score, composing the music for the Werner Herzog film Signs Of Life, and composing the music for the 1983 BBC TV mini series, The Dark Side of the Sun.

Xarchakos was also tested in the field of politics. In 1986, he was elected municipal councillor of Athens and took over as deputy mayor of culture. In June 1989, he entered the national political scene and was elected member of parliament. Despite being re-elected, in 1990 he submitted his resignation, saying he could not serve the interests and the public as good as when he first joined politics.

In 1995, he took over the artistic direction of the newly formed State Orchestra of Greek Music (KOEM), the only orchestra in Greece with an exclusively Greek repertoire from the whole range of music. 

In his personal life, Stavros Xarchakos has been married twice. The first time with Carlota Xanthopoulou, with whom he had a daughter, Pandora Xarchakou. In 2015, he married the singer Iro Saia, with whom he had twins.

Songs written by Stavros in the 60’s are now considered classics of their time, with the composer known for his personal musical style.

On December 19, 2019, Stavros Xarchakos was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Department of Music Studies of the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Sourced By: San Simera

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Magna Graecia – Part 6: The eternal return

Across this series, we have journeyed through the Greek settlements of southern Italy, tracing how Hellenic civilisation spread.

Kiato: Greece’s seaside town loved by locals and the diaspora

Kiato is a seaside town, about 25 kilometres from Korinthos on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. On the national highway.

Changing your name and surname abroad and in Greece

It is generally known that in Greece to live and work many foreigners have acquired Greek citizenship by naturalisation or by determination.

Action over inertia: Building the future of the Greek diaspora in Australia

It is necessary that we now be led to the need of finding mechanisms that will halt the demographic withering, the social inertia and the cultural thinning.

Costeen Hatzi opens up on life after Nick Kyrgios split

Costeen Hatzi has spent her summer in Europe, enjoying her first overseas girls’ trip, a milestone that carried extra meaning for her.

You May Also Like

Dr Bill Liapis and team named finalists in SA’s prestigious science awards

SA science excellence and innovation awards finalists were announced and Greek Australian Dr Vasilios Liapis has been included in them.

Largest ever Olympic team representing Greece heads to Paris

With the qualification of the national basketball team to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the formation of the Greek delegation was completed.

Australia’s Governor-General holds high level meetings in Greece

The Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley, has held numerous high level meetings on the first day of his historic visit to Greece.