Today, the famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis has passed away at the age of 96.
And Theodorakis is the composer of the music for the movie “Zorba the Greek” in 1964, which contributed to the consolidation of the image of the sunny and happy country in the eyes of millions of tourists, according to “Reuters”.
R.I.P. 🖤🕯 Mikis Theodorakis
😔thank you for the music pic.twitter.com/qsCFIqwaVC— Susan Nou (@SusanNou) September 2, 2021
With his tall stature, thoughtful physique, and wavy hair, Theodorakis’ music launched his own vision of the world: a progressive and democratic vision of communism.
The news was announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture, and the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said, “Today we lost a part of the soul of Greece…Theodorakis, who left us, was a teacher, intellectual and a radical revolutionary.”
Greece today mourns the loss of Mikis Theodorakis. An iconic composer. A fighter for democracy and social justice. We are deeply saddened by his passing, and are only comforted by the knowledge that his legacy will live on, enriching lives the world over, for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/VbfM2uMXbM
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) September 2, 2021
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mourned him, writing on Twitter: “Greece today mourns the loss of Mikis Theodorakis, an iconic composer. A fighter for democracy and social justice. We are deeply saddened by his passing, and only relieved to know that his legacy will live on, enriching lives in all over the world, for future generations.
Theodorakis, born on the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, is one of the most famous Greek composers and has many immortal works of art. He is also considered a symbol of communism in Greece, and has turned into a symbol of resistance in general.
Theodorakis had positions in favor of the Palestinian right and rejecting the Israeli occupation, and the Lebanese translator and writer Fawaz Traboulsi wrote, condoling the death of Theodorakis: “A bouquet of red roses and a tear in your farewell, Mikis Theodorakis, the Greek resistant, the Marxist rebel against your parties.”
He added: “We will not forget that you visited us in Beirut, besieged by the Israeli enemy, and played for us a Greek anthem for Palestine, which remains in your great art an anthem of joy, love of life and the struggle for freedom and equality.”
And his age did not prevent him from declaring his rejection of the austerity measures imposed by the donors on the country, during the financial crisis that hit the country.