PHAROS LECTURE–MUSICAL EVENING
The 2008/2009 lecture series by PHAROS, the Canadian Hellenic Cultural Society is nearing the end. The last in the regular series was presented on Monday, April 27th at the upper hall of the Hellenic Community Centre in Vancouver.
George Yioldassis gave a short presentation of the life of Giorgos Zampetas(1925-1992), Greek music composer, singer and bouzouki artist. Yioldassis referred to a recently published book “And the Rain Fell Straight Through: The Life of Giorgos Zambetas” by Ionna Kliasou.
Giorgos Zampetas was born in Athens, the son of Mihalis Zampetas, a barber and Marika Moraiti, the niece of a well-known baritone of those times. His father did not encourage his son’s interest in music so young Giorgos would secretly play the bouzouki, mimicking the sounds of the birds he would listen to in the park. As a first grade student he played his first song in a school competition, winning his first prize. He went on to become of the greatest bouzouki artists. His music was featured in many films, including the soundtrack of Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite. Almost everyone is familiar with Zempetas composition : Never on Sunday.
The presentation of the life of Giorgos Zampetas was followed with musical performances of some of the timeless classics composed by Zampetas. The band performing his music consisted of Thomas Makris (baglama and vocals), George Yioldassis (bouzouki), Kanella Stefanis (vocals), John Mavrogeorge (guitar) and Rick Tsigouras (drum). Toward the end of the performance George Yioldassis played his newly acquired bouzouki for the first time. The evening’s entertainment was met with a standing oviation by the audience. The Consul-General of Greece George Ayfontis congratulated the band on its zealous performance of Greek music which he said carried one back to the waterfront of Athens in the 1960’s.
Pharos is also cosponsoring two more lectures jointly with the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC as part of the Hellenic Cultural Month 2009. On Monday May 25th Prof. John Xiros Cooper, UBC Department of English will present The Two Byrons and Greece. On Thursday, June 4th Prof. Andre Gerolymatos, SFU Hellenic Studies Program will present Side-Tracked by Mussolini-Greece’s Role in WW2. Both lectures will take place in the upper hall of the Hellenic Community Centre, beginning at 7:30 pm.
WATCH OUT FOR GREEK DAY ON BROADWAY 2009
The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC is again organizing the Greek Day on Broadway, Vancouver for Sunday, June 21st. It is the finale in a month of cultural activities showcasing the Greek culture. For more information on the list of activities leading up to Greek Day visit the web page www.greekday.com .
