Songs of Liberation by Greece’s Four Great Composers

Featuring international vocalist Dimitris Basis.

200 years ago, in the northern spring of 1821, Greeks rose in revolt against the mighty Ottoman Empire, which had dominated their land for centuries. After many vicissitudes, the Revolution of 1821 led to the establishment of an independent, internationally recognised Greek kingdom in 1832.

Nonetheless, the struggles of Greek men and women for the liberation of occupied territory, and for democracy in their own country, continued intermittently and reached a new climax in the period of military dictatorship (1967-74). Always, from before the Revolution to the present day, music and song have inspired Greek people to struggle for a better world and to honour those who have given their lives for the cause.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence, QPAC presents a concert with songs of revolution, liberation and empowerment created over several decades by four great composers of the 20th and 21st centuries: Vassilis Tsitsanis, Manos Hatzidakis, Stavros Xarchakos and Mikis Theodorakis.

Bringing the scores of these tremendous composers to life in the grandeur of QPAC’s Concert Hall will be international soloist Dimitris Basis, joined by a Greek band and symphony orchestra playing under the direction of conductor Dimitris Calligeros.