Maria Farantouri

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Maria Farantouri (Greek: Μαρία Φαραντούρη), born in Athens on 28 November 1947 ^[1] is a Greek singer. She has collaborated with prominent Greek music composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, who wrote the score for Pablo Neruda's Canto General, which Farantouri performed.

During the military junta which ruled Greece until 1975 she colloborated with Mikis Theodorakis by recording protest songs in Europe. She has recorded songs in Spanish ('Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara'), Italian, and English ("Joe Hill" and Brecht's "Alabama Song' from The Threepenny Opera), as well as works by Greek composers Eleni Karaindrou and also Mikalis Bourboulis ('San Elektra' and 'Tora Xero') in which she realized a special fusion of vocal and instrumental beauty with musical accompaniment by Vangelis. She also sang the notable 'Mauthausen Cycle'. She was an elected member of Greek Parliament for a few years.

Her voice is a particularly tender deep, sub-alto/baritone with about an octave and a half of silky smooth range.

She is married to the politician Tilemachos Chitiris.