He has sung an endless repertoire (over 1,000 songs) of the leading composers with his gifted and at the same time sensitive voice as his first and main resource.
The author of the book, Yiannis Kourkoulos, with Manolis Mitsias.
The journalist Yiannis Kourkoulos, collected and wrote in the book, which is already in circulation, characteristic moments but also many unknown stories to the general public, regarding the artist but – mainly – regarding the man Manolis Mitsias. As the author mentions, among other things, in the foreword of the publication: “Perhaps the only artist who did not make the slightest deduction from what characterizes quality, without for a moment calculating the cost of this choice”.
In the book “Manolis Mitsias Ilios chimoniatikos, archont lambros” published by Metronomos publications, they talk and remember moments with the beloved performer, his siblings, childhood friends, fellow villagers and associates. He himself, Manolis Mitsias, tells the author his journey from Doumbia in Halkidiki to Athens.
It was a difficult time but also a time when masterpieces were born, in song and in culture.
It is worth noting that Manolis Mitsias’ first contact with singing and music took place in his childhood and teenage years, being a cantor in the church of his village.
Later in Thessaloniki, when he went to study there, he became a member of the choir of the Northern Greek Letters and Arts Club.
Manolis Mitsias with his mother, Chariklia, whom he says was the caliphono of his family
He went through boudoirs and music groups in his early days, while facing problems during the dictatorship period due to political beliefs.
In the 1960s, Dimos Moutsis invited him to rehearse the songs “M’ Ena Parapono” and “Avrio Pali” which were eventually performed by Grigoris Bithikotsis.
The first big leap in Mitsias’ career took place in 1969, with the song “Once upon a time in Eleusis” with music by Dimos Moutsis and lyrics by Vassilis Andreopoulos.
Manolis Mitsias does not need special introductions, especially since 1971 and since then he has collaborated with all the leading Greek composers and performers.
In the book regarding Manolis Mitsias (the cover was designed by Petros Paraschis) there is rich photographic material from various characteristic points of his long journey in musical events. At the same time there are reports regarding him by the late Mikis Theodorakis and Marios Tokas. Of course, the edition does not lack references from great figures of Greek song such as: Xarchakos, Andriopoulos, Kokkotos, Kraunakis and many great performers such as: Faradouri, Makedonas, Manou, Antonopoulou who collaborated from time to time, as well as his current companions – musicians (Zackas-composer-soloist-bouzouki, Vastor-composer-piano) and many others.
The writer-journalist, Yiannis Kourkoulos, in his particularly characteristic foreword to the book, writes among other things: “Manolis Mitsias. My childhood lullaby, the soulful voice that seduced and possessed me from its beginnings in my teenage years, a feeling that with its consistent artistic course took care to forge it, keep it unchanged and enhance it to the maximum extent in a course of fifty-six, in 2023, years”.
The book by Yiannis Kourkoulos “Manolis Mitsias – Winter sun, bright lord” is published by Metronomos publications
ARREST IN THE JUNTA
A forbidden… Irish ballad
During the years of the dictatorship, and while there was a ban on the performance of certain songs, one night he was taken to the EAT – ESA, probably for intimidation, as soon as he finished the performance of the song “Who does not speak regarding Lambri”. When they asked him, to the duty officer in front, why he said the song that is forbidden, even saying to him: “Are you kidding me?”, Manolis spontaneously answered them: “But why not say them? An Irish ballad is…”. And one of the constables who arrested him, addressing the other, said to him: “Did you see what I was telling you, you fool? Irish song is…”.
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#Turning #pages #life #Manolis #Mitsias
