Following the death of Greece's greatest composer and political activist, Mikis Theodorakis, the country's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced a three-day national mourning.
Theodorakis' last wish was to be buried in the town of Galatas, his ancestral home, located west of the Chania region in Crete.
The composer, who played a crucial role in raising global awareness of Greece's struggle in the face of the 1967-74 military dictatorship, died on Thursday at the age of 96.
Theodorakis' work includes symphonies, film scores and rousing songs based on major Greek works of poetry, which have become left-wing anthems throughout the decades.
What is perhaps his most recognizable composition worldwide is the syrtaki for the 1964 film 'Zorba the Greek'.
Some of Theodorakis' songs have also been performed by iconic artists throughout the years, such as, The Beatles, Shirley Bassey and Edith Piaf.
Theodorakis also composed film scores for 'Z' in 1969 - the winner of BAFTA for original music, 'Phaedra' in 1962 and 'Serpiko' in '1973', for which he was nominated for a Grammy in 1975.
[h/t: Greek City Times]
COMMENTS