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Format Details:
Release Date: 05 December 2025
Label: Intuition Music
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 0750447346727
Composer/Series: Private Recordings
Description
To mark the 100th anniversary of Mikis Theodorakis' birth and the official "Year of Commemoration 2025" proclaimed by the Greek Ministry of Culture, a remarkable collection of previously unreleased recordings by the legendary composer is being released under the title 'Private Recordings'. The label Intuition presents a double CD featuring songs that Theodorakis recorded himself in his Greek home during the 1970s and early 1980s - singing and accompanying himself on the piano. 'Private Recordings' comprises 43 audio tracks by Mikis Theodorakis, most of which were captured between 1979 and 1983 at his home in the seaside town of Vrachati. Recorded on tape or cassette, these sessions also capture the surrounding sounds: waves crashing, cicadas chirping, telephones ringing, wind blowing, voices near and far, and dogs barking. Originally, these recordings were intended as drafts for concert premieres and LP/CD productions. In these raw versions - where Theodorakis both sings and plays the piano - he aimed to convey the musical shape and emotional tone of his songs to his singers and musicians. The only exception is the track "Vardia" ("Night Shift"), where George Dalaras takes over the vocals during a rehearsal, adding a unique colour to the piece.
Six of the recordings feature Lakis Karnezis, one of Theodorakis' most important soloists and one of Greece's greatest bouzouki players, who also contributed to the original 1964 recording of the iconic Zorba the Greek soundtrack. It is deeply moving to witness the musical dialogue between Theodorakis and Karnezis. Now, on the occasion of the composer's centenary, the songs are being made available to the public - including 19 previously unreleased recordings, as well as two world premiere songs by Theodorakis: "The House" and "Bare Feet". The original analogue tapes were carefully restored and digitally remastered by Intuition.
'Private Recordings' is a unique historical document that captures the unmistakable artistic voice of Mikis Theodorakis in its purest form - a tribute to one of the most important composers of the20th century.
Tracklisting
Sebastian Sternal & hr-Bigband
Eddie Palmieri
Nicholas Lens
Mikis Theodorakis
Steps Ahead
Don Cherry & Krzysztof Penderecki
Henning Schmiedt
Hans Ludemann TRIO IVOIRE XX
Henning Schmiedt
Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin; Orestis Kalampalikis; Stathis Karapanos; Titos Gouvelis; Athens State
