Musical performance “I exist” – Chania 19th April
The Choir of Agia Marina “Musical Letters” , a musical ensemble based in Nea Kydonia, Chania, under the direction of Elisavet Giannaraki presents the musical performance “I Exist” on Sunday, 19th April, at 20.00 at the “Mikis Theodorakis” Theater, Venetian Harbour, Chania.
The program includes a tribute to the composer and bouzouki virtuoso Christos Nikolopoulos, one of the most important figures in contemporary folk music (Λαϊκά), and other works by great Greek composers. The artistic direction of the program: Elissavet Giannaraki.
Also participating: Kostas Fiotakis
Admission is free for the public.
About Christos Nikolopoulos
He was born on 11th July 1947 in Kapsochori, a village inCentral Macedonia. His family did not have the necessary financial resources for his studies. Engaging in something professional related to music, as his family was already involved in it, seemed like the only way for Christos Nikolopoulos from a young age. For livelihood reasons and in order to help his poor family, he became a professional musician, playing throughout the region of his homeland, at celebrations, weddings, festivals, etc.
In 1963, at the age of just sixteen, with his father’s support, he arrived in Athens.
On Veranzerou and Satovriandou streets in Omonia there was the “Musicians’ Cafe”.
There he met musicians who helped him play for small companies. Stelios Zafeiriou, a master of the bouzouki, heard him and suggested that they play together on recordings for larger companies.
Soon Christos Nikolopoulos became better known and many spoke of his “great musical talent”, while praising his modesty.
In 1965 the musician Petros Iatrou introduced him to Stelios Kazantzidis, with whom he worked together during the last years of Kazantzidis’ appearances (1965-1966).
They went on tours in America, Germany, and throughout Greece. Stelios Kazantzidis left the centers in the spring of 1966 and has not reappeared since (except much later and symbolically now).
Later, and despite the good relations that the two men had in the past, there was a dispute between them over the authorship of some songs, which was widely covered by the media of that time.
Christos Nikolopoulos continued his career independently, meeting and working with almost all the Rembetiko musicians of the time (Vassilis Tsitsanis, Yiannis Papaioannou, Giorgos Kyriazis, Markos Vamvakaris, Stavros Kougioumtzis).
In 1968, he began writing his first songs. In the period 1969-70, Manolis Chiotis collaborated with him and helped him a lot in his musical studies. As Christos Nikolopoulos regularly states, “With Manolis Chiotis it was as if I obtained a master’s degree with him.”
It is widely known that the older masters of the bouzouki had Manolis Chiotis as their idol, and Manolis Chiotis spoke highly of Christos Nikolopoulos.
Christos Nikolopoulos was also a close collaborator with George Zambetas and in fact in one of his tributes George Zambetas calls him his “son”.
Since 1985, Nikolopoulos and his orchestra have been taking part in concerts and in selected venues, making his presence in the Greek music scene strong to this day. Two of his concerts were recorded and made into albums. At the Panathinaikos stadium in 1987, with the participation of 10 singers with the participation of 40,000 spectators. In 1998, a concert at the Herodes Atticus with 70 musicians of the ERT modern orchestra.
The title of the recorded album is: “Christos Nikolopoulos – Herodes Atticus Conservatory”.
Since October 2023 he has co-hosted a music show with Melina Aslanidou and Lina Nikolakopoulou, “Night of Stasis” on ERT.
Sources: chania-culture.gr, Haniotika Nea
