MARIA FARANTOURI, POLITICAL & CULTURAL ACTIVISM

Today, The Grandma is still relaxing at home. She has decided to listen to some music, and she has chosen Maria Farantouri songs because she loves Greek music.

 

Farantouri was born on a day like today in 1947, and The Grandma wants to remember her talking about her life and career.

Maria Farantouri or Farandouri, in Greek Μαρία Φαραντούρη, born 28 November 1947 in Athens, is a Greek singer and also a political and cultural activist. She has collaborated with Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, who wrote the score for Pablo Neruda's Canto General, which Farantouri performed all over the world.

During the Greek military junta of 1967-1974, Maria Farantouri recorded protest songs in Europe with Mikis Theodorakis.

In 1971, she recorded Songs and Guitar Pieces by Theodorakis with Australian guitarist John Williams which included seven poems by Federico García Lorca. She has recorded songs in Spanish Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara, Italian, and English Joe Hill and Elisabeth Hauptmann's Alabama Song from Bertolt Brecht's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, George Gershwin's works, as well as works by Greek composers Manos Hatzidakis, Eleni Karaindrou and Vangelis.

Her voice is contralto with two octaves. The international press called her a people's Callas (The Daily Telegraph), and the Joan Baez of the Mediterranean (Le Monde).

Maria Farantouri was an elected member of the Greek Parliament from 1989 to 1993 representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). She is married to the poet and former politician Tilemachos Chytiris.

On 23 September 2004, the President of the Hellenic Republic recognized the contribution of Maria Farantouri to Greek song, awarding her the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix. She was awarded the Premio Tenco Italian Award 2014 for her contribution to international contemporary and traditional music, and the Spanish LiberPress 2017.

More information: Maria Farantouri

Κάτω απ' το χώμα μες στα σταυρωμένα χέρια τους
κρατάνε τις καμπάνας το σχοινί,
προσμένουνε την ώρα, προσμένουν να σημάνουν την ανάσταση
τούτο το χώμα είναι δικό τους και δικό μας
δεν μπορεί κανείς να μας το πάρει.

Under the ground in their crossed arms
hold the bells on the rope,
they wait for the hour, they wait for the resurrection
this soil is theirs and ours
no one can take it from us.

Maria Farantouri