Legendary Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis passes away at 96

Serpico and Zorba the Greek music composer Mikis Theodorakis has died at 96 The beloved Greek composers rousing music and life of political defiance won acclaim abroad and inspired millions at homeThe Greek flag was lowered to halfstaff at the Acropolis as three days of national mourning were declared Theodorakis death at his home in central Athens on Thursday was announced on state television and followed multiple hospitalisations in recent years mostly for heart treatmentTheodorakis had a prolific career that began at the age of 17 As a composer he began in earnest as he worked in a huge range of genres from film scores and ballet music to operas as well as chamber music ancient Greek tragedies and Greek folk setting the work of leading poets to music including Spains Federico Garcia Lorca and the Greek Nobel laureate Odysseas ElytisA music series based on poems written by Nazi concentration camp survivor Iakovos Kambanellis The Ballad of Mauthausen described the horrors of camp life and the HolocaustBut it was the Oscarwinning film adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis Zorba the Greek in 1964 and the slowtofrenetic title score by Theodorakis that made him a household name The movie starring Anthony Quinn Alan Bates and Irene Pappas picked up three Academy AwardsFans of his music were as varied as his work The Beatles sang a cover of his song and he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet UnionBut the towering man with trademark worker suits hoarse voice and wavy hair also is remembered by Greeks for his stubborn opposition to postwar regimes that persecuted him and outlawed his musicGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared three days of national mourning posting a photograph with Theodorakis at his home following a recent hospitalizationI had the honour of knowing him for many years and his advice has always been valuable to me especially concerning the unity of our people and overcoming divisions Mitsotakis wroteThe best way to honour him a global Greek is to live by that message Mikis is our historyBorn Michail Theodorakis on the eastern Aegean island of Chios on July 29 1925 he was exposed to music and politics from a young ageTheodorakis began writing music and poetry in his teens just as Greece entered World War II During the war he was arrested by the countrys Italian and German occupiers for his involvement in Leftwing resistance groupsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever