Remembering Yannis Markopoulos: One of the greatest modern Greek composers

·

Yannis Markopoulos was part of a very big chapter in the history of Greek music as he inspired a new musical movement where he masterfully combined the traditional with classical and modern sounds.

Markopoulos was prolific writer and he composed, during his long career, works covering a wide range of music from art music and orchestral pieces to operas, oratorios and music for theater and cinema.

Early Life:

Markopoulos was one of the most important modern Greek composers alongside Mikis Theodorakis, Vangelis Papathanasiou and Thanos Mikroutsikos.

He was born in 1939 in Heraklion, Crete. His father is Georgios Markopoulos, former prefect of Lasithi and his mother is Irini Aeraki from Sitia.

He spent his childhood in Ierapetra, where he took his first music lessons in theory and the violin. His first influences came from local music, as well as from classical music, the music of the wider eastern Mediterranean, and especially of nearby Egypt.

Yannis Markopoulos

In 1956, Markopoulos continued his musical studies at the Athens Conservatory, with the composer Georgios Sklavos and the violin teacher Joseph Bustidui. At the same time, he was admitted to Panteion University for social and philosophical studies while also composing for theatre and cinema.

Musical career:

In 1963, Markopoulos won an award for his music in Mikres Aphrodites by Nikos Koundouros at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, and in the same year his musical works Theseas (dance drama), Hiroshima (ballet suite) and Three Sketches for Dance were staged by new dance ensembles.

From October 1965 to April 1984, he provided music for all the plays presented by the Barba Mitoussis Puppet Theater. This Puppet Theater finally ended its operation on April 15, 1984.

In 1967, a dictatorship was imposed on Greece and Markopoulos left for London. There he enriched his musical knowledge with the English composer Elisabeth Lutyens.

Yannis Markopoulos

At the same time, he completed the musical composition Behold the Bridegroom, a work which is remembered as one of his most famous pieces.

In London, he also composed the Choruses and the first Pyrrhic dances A, B, C, (out of the 24 he completed in 2001), which were played, in 1968, by the Concertante Orchestra of London at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. He also wrote the music for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, staged by the National Theater of England, directed by David Jones.

Later Life and Death:

In 1969, Markopoulos returned to Athens to contribute with his works to the path for the restoration of democracy, creating a new movement for art and its utility and seeking the deeper unity of man with his natural and social environment.

Markopoulos died on June 10, 2023 after being submitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Athens General Hospital “Alexandra”.

The Greek composer had been battling cancer for a year and he underwent an operation to treat it, but since his body was particularly weakened, complications arose leading to his death.

Source: protothema.gr

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Summer soundtrack: The ultimate guide to Greek concerts and festivals in 2025

Wherever you are in the country, The Greek Herald has the inside scoop on must-see performances to catch during your summer escape.

Michael Zannis: The Greek Aussie cricket star redefining blindness

Michael Zannis has turned his ‘disability’ into his superpower. He lives as everyone else does and is thriving.

Greek olive oil today: Production, use and export data

Greek olive oil is consumed in large quantities in Greece today. Still, the small population leaves plenty of oil for export.

Greece ranks fifth highest in Europe for short-term rental prices

Greece has become the fifth most expensive destination in Europe for short-term rentals, with the average nightly rate reaching 250 euros.

Greece cracks down on beach violations amid thousands of complaints

Greek authorities are intensifying efforts to combat illegal beach occupation and protect public access to the coastline.

You May Also Like

Steve Georganas MP hosts community event to mark Greek Revolution Bicentennial

Adelaide’s community commemorated the Greek Revolution Bicentennial in an event hosted by Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas.

HACCI SA celebrate one year since revival with annual Parliament House event

The South Australian Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry marked the first anniversary of its revival for members.

Greece to access €2.25 billion EU fund for flood recovery efforts

The European Commission President revealed that Greece is set to unlock up to $2.25 billion from untapped and accelerated cohesion funds.