Theodorakis, Mikis (1925–)

Mikis Theodorakis, known for his musical scores such as in Zorba (1964) and Serpico (1974), was born on the island of Chios in Greece. In addition to being an internationally known music composer, Theodorakis has been a social activist. In fact, his interest in activism started at the same time as his passionate interest for music. He took active roles in the resistance to the German occupation in Greece (World War II), he worked on promoting a resolution between the opposing sides of the Greek Civil War, and he launched the anti-junta resistance movement. In addition, he struggled for democratic rights in Greece, and he has always been an activist for world peace and human rights.

It was during the Greek Civil War (1945–1948) that Theodorakis composed his first symphony while in a concentration camp on the island of Makronisos. He spent these 3 years underground or in abusive prison camps, and this was when he became interested in folk music and Rebetika (Greek popular music). In 1954, Theodorakis entered the Paris Conservatoire where he studied composition with Olivier Messiaen and conducted with Eugene Bigot. In 1957, he won the Gold Medal in the Moscow Music Festival, and in 1959, he was proposed for the American Copley Music Prize as the Best European Composer of the year.

In April of 1967, the Junta of the Colonels (a military dictatorship) took control in Greece. Theodorakis went underground again and launched an anti-junta movement; he became the founder and leader of the Patriotic Front. The junta soon placed a ban on Theodorakis's music, and that summer they imprisoned him for 5 months, eventually deporting him to a concentration camp in Zatouna (in Peloponnese). However, an international solidarity movement, headed by Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Miller, Harry Belafonte, and others, managed to free Theodorakis. In April 1970, he went into exile with the help of French politician Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber.

While in exile, Theodorakis continued his resistance movement by giving concerts and holding press conferences in an attempt to unite all Greeks against the [Page 1369]colonels and restore democracy in Greece. He also focused on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem (the conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots). According to Theodorakis, only a civilian government with former conservative leader Constantine Karamanlis as president would cause the regime's fall. In July 1974, internal problems, international pressure, and the Cyprus tragedy caused the junta to invite Karamanlis to return to Greece and resume power. Theodorakis then returned to his country.

In 1976, Theodorakis formed the Movement for Culture and Peace, and he continued with his work (music and activism) in Greece. He has served in the Greek Parliament and was a minister (1990–1992) in the Constantine Mitsotakis government. His most recent awards are his Nobel Peace Prize nomination (2000), the Russian International St. Andrew the First Called Prize (2005), and the IMC UNESCO International Music Prize (2005).