Margarita Zorbala

The event at Limassol's Municipal Gardens Theater features Margarita Zorbala and the Russian National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments “Ossipov”, in a composition by Vassos Argyridis.

Margarita Zorbala was born in Taskendi (former Soviet Union). Her parents were Greek Political Refugees. When she was still only 2 years of age, her family and Margarita moved to Moscow.

She was just 9 when she first met Mikis Theodorakis, a family friend who went to Moscow to visit the family. This meeting proved to be the beginning of her destiny as a singer as at 17 years old, Margarita Zorbala went to Greece after having been invited by Theodorakis to perform on one of his most important works - “Ballads” to the poetry of Manolis Anagnostakis. On completing her studies she returned to Greece with her family permanently.

In the years that followed, she recorded another 5 albums with Theodorakis and for 2 years she accompanied him in all the concerts performed in and outside of Greece (Europe, America, Canada).

She had the good fortune to work with the renowned Poet Yiannis Ritsos on the album “12 Russian Folk Songs” upon which the poet had translated the lyrics into the Russian language. Margaritas mother also sang in a few of the songs from this album.

Her discography is enriched by works with Manos Hadjidakis, Loukianos Kelaidonis, Dionysos Savopoulos, Lakis Papadopoulos, Antreas Vollenweider and many others.

Since 1993 Margarita Zorbala has lived in Cyprus on a permanent basis and continues to record her work and do live concerts whenever she feels the need to come to close contact with the public.

During October 2000, Margarita Zorbala has worked with George Dalaras in a series of concerts with the kremlin Presidential orchestra. This was a set-off in her future cooperation and relationship with other great orchestras.

Her performances with probably the best orchestra of traditional instruments, the "OSSIPOV Ballalaika orchestra" were a great success both in Cyprus and Moscow last winter.

The cooperation of Margarita Zorbala with the OSSIPOV Ballalaika orchestra continued in the summer of 2001. Five concerts took place in four large amphetheaters all over Cyprus with ten thousand spectators overall.