Manos Hadjidakis
Along with his contemporary Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis (1925-1994) is one of the most prominent Greek composers of the century.
With a wide and illustrious career in music and film making, Hadjidakis has collaborated with many famous Greek film directors and actors including Melina Mercouri. From 1966-1972 he lived and worked in the USA. He is also the author of four books and founded the Orchestra of Colours as well as directing a music channel on Greek Radio.
Compositions by Manos Hadjidakis appear on
Flight
This disc from Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble draws on the more virtuosic, lively and passionate items in the repertoire of the ensemble. The idea of flight is evoked in the choice of many of the pieces, notably "The flight of the bumble bee" and "The witches". All the other pieces in one way or another echo, with their energy and vitality, the rapture of flights of fancy.
Composer
Forgotten Dreams
It was in 1999 when Concordia director Basil Hawkins first came across The waltz of forgotten dreams by Hadjidakis. He was struck by its atmospheric and evocative nature and in keeping with this nostalgic ambience, the selection on this disc includes such pieces as Eileen Pakenham's Reverie and Fred Witt's Memories of Bendigo.
