Giannis Markopoulos

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Giannis Markopoulos (born on 18 March 1939) is a Cretan-Greek composer.

[edit] Biography

He lived in Ierapetra Crete until he left high school in 1956 to study music in Athens and begin a career in composition. His compositions have been significant in shaping modern classical music in Crete. ^[1]

He had an international hit with the theme music from the British TV series Who Pays the Ferryman. His compositions frequently appear in compilations with other famous Greek and Cretian composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Nikos Xilouris, Vasilis Skoulas, Manos Hatzidakis,Psarantonis, Haralambos Garganourakis and Stavros Xarchakos.^[2]

Markopoulos was responsible for discovering singer Lizetta Nikolaou in the 1970s.^[3] In 1974 they recorded the "Thessalian Cycle" and "Songs of my Father" together, in 1975 "Independently" and "The Dedication" and in 1976 "Oropedio" which received much acclaim in Greece. Almost all of his compositions based on lyrics by Greek poets as Giorgos Seferis, Odysseas Elytis, Yannis Ritsos, Kostas Georgousopoulos, Dimitris Varos, Michalis Katsaros, Yannis Ritsos and others.

Markopoulos was signed to Universal Records for some time.^[4]

In 1998/99 he produced a series of concerts in the Athens Concert Hall (known as the Megaron), in the Peace and Friendship Stadium and in Patras.

[edit] Selected Discography

• Epihirisi Apolon
• Erotokritos Ke Areti
• Hroniko
• Ilios O Protos
• Thitia
• Thessalikos Kyklos
• Ithagenia
• Stratis Thalassinos
• Kinimatografika
• Leka Kentimata
• Liturgy Of Orpheus
• Periodia Proti
• Ta Tragoudia Tou Neou Pate
• Tolmiri Epikinonia (Daring Communication)
• Electric Theseus
• To Pio Lambro Asteri
• Tou Sid & Nerou

[edit] References