About
Manos Hadjidakis (1925-1994) was a major Greek composer, co-founder with Mikis Theodorakis of modern Greek music and the 'éntekhno' art-song tradition. Born in Xanthi, he studied in Athens. In 1948-49, he delivered a landmark lecture on rebetiko, the urban folk music, helping to legitimize it and introducing the bouzouki into serious composition. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961 for 'Never on Sunday' (Ta Pedia tou Pirea), which he refused. He scored over 70 films, including 'Stella' (1955) and 'America America' (1963), and wrote for the theater. He directed the Third Programme of Greek Radio (1975-1981) and founded the Orchestra of Colours in 1989.
* 1925-10-23 — † 1994-06-15
Major works
- Six Popular Pictures (1951)piano suite
- The C.N.S. Cycle (1954)song cycle
- Never on Sunday (Ta Pedia tou Pirea) (1960)film song
- 15 Vespers (1964)song cycle
- Gioconda's Smile (1965)song cycle
Key milestones
- 1961Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Never on Sunday', which he refused.
- 1989Founded the Orchestra of Colours, a chamber ensemble.
- 2026The Greek Culture Ministry declared 2026 the 'Year of Manos Hadjidakis' for the centenary of his birth.
Themes
Modern Greek musicRebetikoFilm musicTheaterGreek poetry
Sources: id.loc.gov · news.gtp.gr · independent.co.uk