Theodorakis, Mikis
Private Recordings
Private Recordings comprises 43 audio tracks by Mikis Theodorakis, most of which were captured on July 24, 1979 and December 27, 1983 at his home in the seaside town of Vrachati. Recorded on tape or cassette, these sessions also capture the surrounding sounds: waves crashing, cicadas chirping, telephones ringing, wind blowing, voices near and far, and dogs barking. Originally, these recordings were intended as drafts for concert premieres and LP/CD productions. In these raw versions - where Theodorakis both sings and plays the piano - he aimed to convey the musical shape and emotional tone of his songs to his singers and musicians. The only exception is the track "Vardia" ("Night Shift"), where George Dalaras takes over the vocals during a rehearsal, adding a unique colour to the piece. Six of the recordings feature Lakis Karnezis, one of Theodorakis most important soloists and one of Greeces greatest bouzouki players, who also contributed to the original 1964 recording of the iconic Zorba the Greek soundtrack. It is deeply moving to witness the musical dialogue between Theodorakis and Karnezis.