is the secret of your suc- cess? “There is no secret to this. I have a huge and unrelenting love for mu- sic. I respect the audience and study a lot. I never forget the importance of having amazing soloists and strong musicians on stage.” You’ve sung with the likes of Mikis Theodorakis, Sting, Paco de Lucia, Bruce Springsteen and Goran Bregović… “It was an honour and a pleas- ure for me to have collaborated with these amazing musicians, legends from different parts of the world. I recently had the opportunity to at- tend a concert of my beloved friend Goran Bregović in Athens and it felt like it was yesterday that we were to- gether on stage. But I also feel very happy when I share the stage with new artists, new voices. Thanks to you, the song Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou has become one of the most beautiful Greek bal- lads. Will you sing it for us at the upcoming concert and what does this song mean to you? “I know you love this song. I will share a story with you. When I first met Goran in Belgrade, we visited a restaurant and a small group of musicians playing wind instruments approached our table and started playing Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou. We were all very touched by this moment. I remember this as one of the strongest moments of my life, because I once again had the opportunity to see the value of this unique language of music that unites different people and makes them brothers.” How would you explain re- betiko; what kind of mu- sic is it? “Rebetiko, for me, is my roots. My father was an amazing bouzouki soloist and he had a great voice. My first music memories are those songs. It is our heritage, the Greek blues. It is my story; the story of the
Čuveni grčki pevač održaće veliki koncert 17. maja u Kombank dvorani na otvaranju 23. Gitar art festivala This famous Greek singer will hold a major concert on 17 th May at Kombank Hall to mark the opening of the 23 rd Guitar Art Festival
suffering homeland since the refu- gees came from Asia Minor during the last century and settled in Pirae- us and many other parts of Greece, bringing these amazing songs with them. Rebetiko is a strong part of my life and the life of all Greeks. It is a fact not to be overlooked that, to this day, young musicians still get inspired by these songs and com- pose new songs based on this form.” You were born in Athens, a city to which one can al- ways return. Could you re- veal to us your favourite places in the Greek capi- tal? “We are very lucky living in Athens, because we have this mira- cle called the Acropolis and the new Acropolis museum, which stand as the most powerful cultural monu-
ment in the world. There is our sea, the Athenian and Piraeus coast- line, the small taverns of Piraeus…” And what about Belgrade? “I’ve been there so many times and collected lots of wonderful memories, from all the theatres, concerts and small performing stages where your musicians play the wonderful traditional songs of Serbia. I always remember the huge park above the river where outdoor chess tournaments take place (Kalemegdan), your magical bookshops that hide treasures and the story of a great nation.” Have you flown with our national airline and what were your impressions? “Of course, I’ve flown with Air Serbia and was absolutely satisfied in all aspects.”
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