Mikis and Manos: A Tale of Two Composers

by Nick Papandreou, Poppy Alexiou (Illustrator)

In the 1960s two different recordings of Yiannis Ritsos' poem Epitaphios were released. One was by Mikis Theodorakis and the other by Manos Hadjidakis. These two distinct recordings of the most radical and powerful music modern Greece had yet heard came to reflect the two different visions modern Greece has for itself; two visions that continue to divide the country to this day. The first, a progressive though amorphous populism with socialist roots, representing a nationalist and sometimes strident “Greece-first” philosophy; the other, a deep respect and awe for the achievements of Western civilization, a desire to live inside a world without fanatics and fanaticism. In his essay Nick Papandreou examines the progress of Epitaphios and narrates the unique rivalry between the two composers, two colourful personalities whose work has shaped the history of modern Greece.

35 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2012

About the author

Nick Papandreou (also published as Nicholas Papandreou, Greek: Νίκος Παπανδρέου) is an American author who writes in both English and Greek.
Besides publishing fiction and poetry, he contributes articles to various magazines, both in Greek and in English.