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Photo of Mikis Theodorakis

Photo: Heinrich Klaffs / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Mikis Theodorakis

Mikis Theodorakis was born July 29, 1925 and died September 2, 2021 (aged 96). From Chios, Greece. Composer / politician / film score composer.

Composer from Greece

  • composer
  • politician
  • film score composer

Mikis Theodorakis, born on July 29, 1925 in Chios, Greece, was a politician, film score composer and songwriter. Death is recorded on September 2, 2021, at the age of 96. Listed accolades include Commander of the Legion of Honour, grand officier de l'ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Lenin Peace Prize (1983) and 5 more. Mikis Theodorakis was associated with Zorba the Greek, Axion Esti and Mauthausen Trilogy.

My Take

To me, Theodorakis is one of those rare artists whose music and conscience were never separate things. We all know the Zorba theme, but I'm more moved by the fact that a man credited with over a thousand works also put his body on the line as a politician and resistance figure. Winning a BAFTA for Z, scoring Serpico, earning the Lenin Peace Prize, all while staying defiantly Greek to his core, that combination is almost unheard of. He felt less like a composer than a national soul set to melody. When he died in 2021 at 96, an entire century of Greek struggle and song went with him.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Mikis Theodorakis
Name (Japanese)
ミキス・テオドラキス
Reading
みきす・ておどらきす
Born
July 29, 1925 – September 2, 2021
Origin
Chios, Greece
Occupation
composer / politician / film score composer / songwriter / recording artist
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Leo / Ox

2. Background

Awards & achievements

  • Commander of the Legion of Honour
  • grand officier de l'ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg
  • 1983 Lenin Peace Prize
  • 1970 BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
  • Lenin Komsomol Prize
  • honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University
  • honorary doctorate of Salzburg University
  • honorary doctor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

3. Works & records

Filmography / notable works

CategoryTitle
Notable workZorba the Greek
Notable workAxion Esti
Notable workMauthausen Trilogy
Notable workPneumatiko Emvaterio
Notable workCanto General

5. About this entry

Tags

  • composer
  • politician
  • film score composer
Last updated

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Mikis Theodorakis born?

Mikis Theodorakis was born on July 29, 1925.

When did Mikis Theodorakis die?

Mikis Theodorakis died on September 2, 2021, aged 96.

Where was Mikis Theodorakis from?

Mikis Theodorakis was from Chios, Greece.

What did Mikis Theodorakis do?

Mikis Theodorakis worked as composer, politician, film score composer, songwriter, recording artist.

What was Mikis Theodorakis known for?

Mikis Theodorakis's notable works include Zorba the Greek, Axion Esti, Mauthausen Trilogy.

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