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Theodorakis
- Chronology (X)
Between
Politics and Music 1988-1996
by
Guy Wagner and Asteris Koutoulas
Structure
and pictures: Guy Wagner
1989
Winter:
The political crisis in Greece gets worse.
April:
Theodorakis meets Konstantin Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative
»Nea Dimokratia« (New Democracy Party), and suggests forming
a coalition government of the Right and the Left.
13
& 14.05. During the »Whitsun Meeting« of the FDJ (Free
German Youth) in East Berlin, »Canto General« is performed
as a ballet (choreography by Harald Wandtke) in the.»Palast
der Republik«. At meetings with officials of the GDR, Theodorakis
insists on the need for reforms in the country.
18.06.
At the parliamentary elections, "Nea Dimokratia" of Mitsotakis
misses an absolute majority by six seats.
01.07.
The Communists agree to support a government formed by the independent
Tzannis Tzannetakis.
05.11.
Theodorakis stands as independent candidate of the left for »Nea
Dimokratia« and helps to clear the way for a Great Coalition under
Xenophon Zolotas, with the aim of provoking a »katharsis«
(purification) from the scandals and corruption in the ministries and
the economy.
1990
08.04.
Konstantin Mitsotakis' party wins 150 seats, one vote short of an absolute
majority.
11.04.
Mitsotakis forms the new government. Theodorakis becomes Cabinet
Minister without portfolio beside the Prime Minister.
04.05.
Constantin Karamanlis becomes again President of the Republic.
Yannis Ritsos (Dresden 1984).
Photo Guy Wagner
11.11.
Yannis Ritsos dies.
1991
Theodorakis
initiates a big campaign against drugs to make the Greeks aware
of this problem in their country.
01.10.
Creation of the opera "Medea", conducted by Loukas Karytinos,
at the Opera Arriaga in Bilbao.
1992
April:
Theodorakis resigns from the government.
Theodorakis conducts the ERT Orchestra
1993
February:
Theodorakis resigns from parliament. Later, he become general
musical director of the Choir and the two Orchestras of the
Hellenic State Radio (ERT), which he reorganises and with which he undertakes
successful concert tours abroad.
April:
At last, Theodorakis can perform "Canto General" in Santiago
di Chile .
Andreas Papandreou comes back to power. Melina Mercouri is reappointed
Minister of Culture..
16.05.
Theodorakis receives President Mitterrand in his house at Vrachati.
06.
& 08.07. Greek creation of "Medea" during the Athens
Festival.
1994
06.03.
Melina Mercouri dies in New York of lung cancer.
March:
Theodorakis undertakes a new European concert tour, whose
theme is "Music without frontiers".
Spring
Summer: 14 concerts in the USA and Canada.
04.05.
A resolution of the US-Senate welcomes Theodorakis to the United
States.
15.06.
Manos Hadjidakis dies in Athens at the age of 69.
17.06.
Theodorakis tenders his resignation as general musical
director of the Choir and the Orchestras of ERT. He attacks the
media empire of Christos Lambrakis.
Autumn-Winter:
Theodorakis composes "Politia G", taking up the musical tradition
of the Sixties.
He publishes his "Children's Songs" (1937-1953) on a double CD.
1995
08.03.
Constantin (Kostis) Stephanopoulos is elected President
of the Republic.
After the creation of "Elektra":
Theodorakis with his two biographers
Gail Holst and Guy Wagner
02.05.
Luxembourg, European City of Culture 1995: Creation of the opera
"Elektra" at the Municipal Theatre, with the Opera Wielki of Poznan
(Director: Marek Weiss-Grzesinski; conductor: José Maria Florencio
jr.).
05.05.
Creation of "Medea" in German in Meiningen.
08.05.
Performance of the "Mauthausen-Cantata" in the Austrian concentration
camp. This performance is followed by a new and last European concert
tour with Maria Farantouri and Lakis Karnezis. On 14.05. in Differdange
(Luxembourg)
29.07.
Numerous concerts in Greece and all over Europe to mark the composer's
70th birthday.
16.-18.08.
Symposium on Theodorakis and his work at Agios Nikolaos (Crete).
End
of autumn Successful tour in Australia.
1996
15.01.
Andreas Papandreou resigns as prime minister, but remains president
of PASOK. His successor as prime minister is Constantin (Costas) Simitis.
Spring
Summer Tensions between Greece and Turkey about several islands
in the Aegean Sea and Cyprus, where two Greek Cypriots are killed by
Turkish soldiers: War seems imminent. Costas Simitis manages
to lower the tension.
01.02.
Correspondence between Theodorakis and Zülfü Livaneli:
Both worry about these tensions.
14.03.
Theodorakis is appointed Officer of the Légion d'Honneur
by the French ambassador in Greece. François Mitterrand signes
the decree before leaving the Elysée Palace.
24.05.
Theodorakis is appointed "doctor honoris causa" of the University
of Crete.
23.06.
The former Greek prime minister Andreas Papandreou dies at the
age of 77.
31.07.
& 01.08. Premiere in Greece of "Elektra" at Irodion
(Athens). Direction: Nikos Koundouris. Theodorakis himself conducts
his opera, on 1.8.
22.09.
Costas Simitis wins the anticipated elections: 163 seats of 300
for PASOK.
22.10.
Premiere in Germany of "Elektra" at Theater Heilbronn
(Production of Teatr Poznan). The composer attends the performance.
23.11.
"Canto General" is conducted by Theodorakis at the Munich Philharmonie.
07.12.
Yannis Theodorakis, Mikis' brother dies at the age of 64. He is
buried in the family tomb in Galata (Crete).
Half a century ago :
Theodorakis with his mother and his brother
in 1947
© Guy Wagner & Asteris Koutoulas, 1996-2002. All pictures ©
FILIKI & Mikis Theodorakis
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