Greece's Grande Dame comes to Australia!
Marinella and performer Takis Zacharatos
promise to take Sydney and Melbourne audiences by surprise!
 |
Photo credit: Giorgos Kalfamanolis ©
2014
|
Marinella's interview to Panos Apostolou
for the Greek-Australian newspaper
"Neos Kosmos (New World)" in Melbourne
Published: March 17, 2016
Photos by George Kalfamanolis, Tassos Vrettos ©
Every single summer for a
decade we would listen to Marinella and Kostas Chatzis' “Recital” on my
father's red 1976 Audi 80 on our way to one of the beaches perched
across Larissa or Katerini in Greece. We knew all the lyrics by heart.
The
first time I saw Marinella live was in May 2010, in Athens. She was then
staging “Marinella · Τhe Musical” at the iconic
Pallas Theatre. A Greek Australian friend visiting at the time asked me to join
him. I remember not wanting to go. Marinella had taken her place in my
childhood summer memories box. Thankfully, I did go. Within a few minutes I was
overtaken by a sense of awe and admiration for the Marinella phenomenon. She
owned the stage the entire time, whether she was singing laiko (Greek folk),
traditional folk or legendary jazz and blues songs.
A few days before her
Australian tour, we managed to get a hold of The Grande Dame of the Greek
Song, who was happy to answer our questions…
 |
Photo credit: Giorgos Kalfamanolis ©
2014 |
- Do you feel that younger
generations of Greeks prefer to listen more to commercial artists and have
lowered their standards of quality?
- “There is no rule dictating
that children today prefer commercial to quality songs. I think young people
these days listen to everything from ballads to folk songs. I find it quite
reasonable that their taste has evolved and they have moved on from what their
parents were listening to. This happens to all young people across the globe.
However, some artists are timeless and even younger generations can relate to
their body of work. For example I don't see how younger generations wouldn't
listen to Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand…”.
- You have said in the past
that record labels no longer empathize with the artist's agonies.
- “The record labels are
businesses and as a result they certainly cannot empathize or share the
anguish, the passion and concerns of an artist. Anyway, record companies no
longer have the same amount of power they did in the past, since the sales of
CDs have dropped significantly. Nowadays, almost everything is available online
as there are many platforms for an artist to distribute their work…”.
- Which do you think are
the greatest anxieties and fears of a new artist/performer today?
- “A new artist's biggest
concern would be to maintain their popularity, especially if they were quickly
shot to stardom. If they become famous from one day to the other, success will
depend entirely on their choices and the career path they chose to follow in
the music industry. Young artists should take cautious and well-thought steps calculating
their next move in order to build a notable trajectory…”.
 |
| Photo credit: Tassos Vrettos © 2014 |
- Should Greek laiko song
be recognised as a form of art and a main component of modern Greek culture?
Could you see it enter the school curriculum as a subject?
- “Of course laiko, like every
other kind of song, is a form of art and culture. Throughout Greek history our
people expressed all of their problems, their feelings and values with songs.
The history and analysis of this genre could most certainly be a subject in our
schools…”.
- How did your
collaboration with Takis Zacharatos come about?
- “Our collaboration came
completely effortlessly. I have been watching Takis for many years and I can
see an artist who is constantly evolving, learning, listening to what happens
around him and carries it to the scene in a unique way. I strongly believe that
Takis is a great talent in many areas. He is a good mime, a good actor and an
excellent singer who is bound to take the world by surprise with his skills.
Lately, because we have become really good friends, I've been discovering a
new, happy and bubbly person who can become a fountain of positive energy for
those around him. I am very happy to be working with him as we are planning to
offer a completely different experience to our audience…”.
- As a constant recipient
of many songs, have you come across enough good material for a new album?
- “Truth is, people send me dozens of songs on a
regular basis and I dare say that lately I received some songs of great
interest. I have actually been thinking of going into the studio and recording
some of them…”.
- What makes a “good” song
for you?
- “For a song to be good it
needs to have this amazing combination of lyrics and music we artists are
looking for -this ideal mix which makes us yearn to dress it with our voice as
soon as we listen to it…”.
- Having given numerous
concerts across the globe, what is it that motivates you to stay connected to
the Greek diaspora? How would you say a concert in Thessaloniki is different
from a concert in Melbourne?
- “I'm blessed to receive huge
amounts of love from the audiences no matter where I perform. However, when I
come here I'm particularly moved as I know Greeks in Australia, as well as in
the US, are yearning to listen to those songs they once loved and have kept
alive in their hearts so far away from home. Every time I sing for Hellenic diaspora
I feel as if they want to envelop me in a huge, warm embrace. All I wish for
them is to be well and for me be able to return their love through my songs…”.
Info.
Marinella and Takis Zacharatos will perform
at Central Live in
Sydney
(588 Princes Hwy, Rockdale) on March 19, 2016,
and at the New Kosmoplitan Pop Up Venue
in South Melbourne (400 City
Road) on March 25, 2016.
For Sydney
reservations and more information
call (+61) 0400-331-111 or (+61)
0414-410-281.
Tables seat 8-10 people and tickets cost
from $145 to $295 per
person.
Doors open 8.30 pm.
Show starts approx. 10.00 pm.
For Melbourne
reservations and inquiries
contact (+61) 0478 526 423).
Ticket prices range
from $199 to $375 each
(with meal, free bottle of Black Label and free parking)
and general admission is $77 per person (without meal).
Doors
open 8.00 pm.
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