Whatever I say, I never forget you

On the occasion of the centennial of his birth but also considering the vast musical her-itage of Vassilis Tsitsani, Sotiris Karagiorgis, Evagoras Karageorgis and Stelios Cacoyannis present a tribute to some of his most important songs, on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at 8pm.

Vassilis Tsitsanis enriched the Greek folk (laiko) song in many levels: he wrote beautiful classical melodies, dressed with his own brilliant lyrics. In his melodies one can find elements of folk songs (dimotiko), byzantine and western elements, even blues details. He seized the old elements but moved on to newer scales. He proceeded harmony with duos and trios. He wrote amazing and interesting introductions with many changes that require skill. He tried all the rhythms of his era but also older. He developed the folk (laiki) orchestra by adding piano, double bass, percussion and other instruments other than the bouzouki, the baglama and guitar.

Entrance: 8 euro
Please reserve your tickets at 70002420.

Tsitsanis was born in Trikala. From a young age, Tsitsanis was interested in music and learnt to play the bouzouki, violin and the mandolin which were the mainstay of so many of his songs. In 1936 he left for Athens to study Law, and by 1937, had made his first musical recording.

In 1937, he moved to Thessaloniki, where he served his military service, and stayed there for about ten years, during the German occupation of Greece. There he became famous and wrote many of his best songs that were later recorded after the end of the War. By the shut-down of the record companies by the German occupation Forces in 1941, he had already recorded about 100 of his own songs and played on many re-cordings of other composers.

In 1946, Tsitsanis returned to Athens and began recording many of his own composi-tions that made famous many of the singers that worked with him, such as Sotiria Bellou (Σωτηρία Μπέλου), Marika Ninou (Μαρίκα Νίνου) and Prodromos Tsaousakis (Πρόδρο-μος Τσαουσάκης).

Tsitsanis died at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London following a lung operation, on his sixty-ninth birthday. He was mourned across Greece, where his music is still enjoyed to this day and he is regarded as a legend of rebetiko music.

A few words about the musicians
Sotiris Karagiorgis known musician, teacher and composer in the area of Paphos and Cyprus in general. Through his personal work, the collective of musical work and years of presence in the field of choral music and artistic Greek song enjoys a significant mu-sical presence.

Evagoras Karageorgis musician, teacher and composer, has worked intensely with the Cypriot music but also the Greek music. He has written classical music, music for thea-tre and television and has made several concerts with his own musical compositions and songs.

Stelios Cacoyannis was a student but also for decades a constant music collaborator and performer of Sotiris Karagiorgi’s songs and other composers. He features distinctive, mellow and soulful voice, along with his great experience in Greek music.