Top 30 Greek (movie) composers
[1] The best soundtrack composers form Greece and Cyprus.
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Mikis Theodorakis was born in the Greek island of Chios, in 1925. It was the same year that the other great composer of Greece was born in Xanthi, Manos Hatzidakis. He fought during the 2nd World War, and was captured at the city of Tripoli. He was tortured, but when he was set free, he joined the partisan army of Greece named EAM, which means National Liberating Movement. He took part in the civil war in Greece which occurred during 1945-1949, always with the left parties of Greece. He was exiled for the first time in the island of Ikaria in 1947, he was transferred to the island of Makronisos in 1948.
He married Myrto Altinoglou, five years later in 1953, and one year later he moved in Paris in order to continue his studies in music. He composed continuously during the following years using some of the most wonderful poems in order to express the people of Greece. After Lamprakis, a Parliamentary representative was murdered, Theodorakis became a member of the Parliament and the number one enemy of the Right parties of Greece.
The great composer didn't not stop expressing his need and hope for democracy even when military dictator Georgios Papadopoulos took power in Greece in 1967. Some months later the military dictatorship decides that he is not 'welcome' in his own country, he was exiled for one more time. Great personalities express their support to this great composer, like Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Miller etc.
He became internationally famous when he composed the music for the film Zorba the Greek (1964), directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Anthony Quinn. But he was becoming very popular even before that film, when he was composing music for the Jules Dassin film Phaedra (1962) starring Melina Mercouri, Anthony Perkins, Raf Vallone, and Kakogiannis' Electra (1962) starring Irene Papas, Aleka Katselli. He even composed music for such acclaimed films like Z (1969) by Costa-Gavras starring Yves Montand and Papas, and Serpico (1973) by Sidney Lumet starring Al Pacino. He came back in 1974, but he stayed only for 6 years. Theodorakis was dissatisfied and went back in Paris and finished his third big work, Canto General, which together with the music from the film Zorba the Greek (1964) and "Axion Esti," a piece of work based on the poems of the Nobel winner poet Odysseas Elitis.
During the '80s, he became for one more time member of the Parliament and issue of controversy in the beginning of the 90s, when he collaborated with the right party's prime minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis. In 1992, he composed the Canto Olympico for the Olympic Games of Barcelona.
His opera Ilektra gained very good reviews, in Luxemburg, the Capital City Of Europe in 1995. He composed also another opera of Lysistrati for the Olympic Games of Athens in 2004. Although, he created controversies with his actions during the last decades, 1980-1990, Mikis Theodorakis was one of the greatest composers of Greece, and created the modern music of Greece together with Manos Hadjidakis.- Composer
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The names of Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis have been written with golden letters in the music history of Greece since 1960. He was born in Xanthi on 23 October 1925, in a mid-class family. When he came of age he came in the capital city of Greece of Athens. He succeeded from the beginning when he made the high class of Greece to accept the Rebetiko, a popular kind of music. His love for this great music resulted in two great LP's - 'Lilacs On The Dead Earth', and 'Cruel April Of 45'.
He worked with director Karolos Koun and he wrote excellent music for such plays as 'A Streetcar Named Desire', starring Melina Mercouri and Vasilis Diamantopoulos. From this collaboration a great classic song resulted, named 'Paper Moon-Xartino To Feggaraki'. He also wrote music for the Greek National Theatre.
In the following years Hadjidakis created a personal style which no one can forget. He wrote music for films like Stella (1955), Madalena (1960), Maiden's Cheek (1959), I Aliki sto Naftiko (1961), creating massive successes. The first golden disc was given to Manos and Aliki Vougiouklaki for the song "The Grey Cat (To grizo gati)" from the film "To xylo vgike apo ton Paradeiso".
He gained worldwide popularity with his collaboration with Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin in 1960 for the film Never on Sunday (1960), and he even won an Oscar. He wrote music for other international films like Elia Kazan's America America (1963), Andrew Marton's It Happened in Athens (1962), Dassin's Topkapi (1964), Peter Ustinov's Memed My Hawk (1984).
In 1963 he staged "A Street Of Dreams (Odos Oneiron)", with Minos Argyrakis, which was considered a milestone in Greek Theatre. In the later years, he humorously denied "Never On Sunday's" popularity and tried to produce more sophisticated works with the help of the poet and lyricist Nikos Gatsos. He became one of best Greek composers, and together with Mikis Theodorakis they are the founders of the temporary Greek Music.
During 1966-1972 he lived in the United States where he wrote the "Magnus Eroticus" LP, which was poems of ancients and temporary poets like Sapfo, Odysseas Elytis, Myrtiotissa etc. He also produced instrumental LP's, like the excellent "The smile of Jokonda". Manos was great friend of persons like Seferis, Elytis (2 Nobel winners poets), Sikelianos, Gatsos (poets), Vougiouklaki (actress), Koun (director), Melina Mercouri (actress, politician), with which they did have a love-hate relationship.
He wrote 4 books and he created the Orchestra Of Colours (I Orhistra ton Hromaton), for some years he was the director of the 3rd program of the Greek Radio channel.
Manos Hadjidakis died on June 15 1994, a lovely summer afternoon. He was one of the greatest composers of Greece, and he is surely missed.- Composer
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Eleni Karaindrou was born in the mountain village of Teichio in central Greece and grew up in Athens, where she studied piano and theory at the Hellenikon Odion. From 1969-74 she studied ethnomusicology in Paris and, on returning to Greece, founded the Laboratory for Traditional Instruments at the ORA Cultural Centre. She has since been an active campaigner on behalf of Greece's musical resources. Karaindrou has a long history of writing for film and theatre; to date, some 18 feature films, 13 plays and 10 television series have featured her music. Although most of her work has been with Greek directors, she has also collaborated with Chris Marker, Jules Dassin and Margarethe von Trotta. Eleni Karaindrou has been associated with Theodoros Angelopoulos since 1982.- Composer
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Nikos Mamangakis was born on 3 March 1929 in Rethymno, Crete, Greece. He was a composer and actor, known for Parenthesi (1968), Monemvasia (1964) and Lilly's Story (2002). He died on 24 July 2013 in Athens, Greece.- Composer
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Hristodoulos Halaris was born on 21 November 1946 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Prosohi, kindynos! (1983), I ilikia tis thalassas (1978) and Escape to Athena (1979).- Composer
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Vangelis was a composer and performer who worked almost exclusively with electronic instruments. With Jean-Michel Jarre and Mike Oldfield in the 1970s, Vangelis was a pioneer in the instrumental music and a main influence in the creation of the musical genre "new age," a style related to spiritual, meditation, relaxing ambient sounds as well as sounds from outer space. He was probably most well known for his Chariots of Fire (1981), Blade Runner (1982), The Bounty (1984) and 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) soundtracks or for the tracks used in the documentary TV series Cosmos (1980) created, produced and hosted by scientist Carl Sagan. Vangelis was involved in many musical collaborations, most famously with British progressive rock band Yes's founding member Jon Anderson.- Composer
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Stamatis Spanoudakis was born on 11 December 1948 in Omonia, Athens, Greece. He is a composer, known for Brides (2004), Prometheus in Second Person (1975) and The Color of Iris (1974).- Composer
- Music Department
Argyris Kounadis was born in 1924 in Konstadinoupolis, Turkey. He was a composer, known for Antigone (1961), O kloios (1987) and To pontikaki (1954). He died on 21 November 2011 in Freiburg, Germany.- Composer
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Loukianos Kilaidonis is primarily a quality music composer and singer and well known in Greece. He was famous for organizing the great beach parties in '80s Athens in Varkiza and Vouliagmeni. His songs are mostly humorous and portray the everyday life of the working class. His signature outfits and long grey hair give him a revolutionary air. He's quite simple and easy going and quite the fun maker. He's the soul of the party!- Composer
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Giannis Markopoulos was born on 18 March 1939 in Iraklio, Crete, Greece. He was a composer and director, known for Young Aphrodites (1963), The Fate of the Innocent (1965) and The Brightest Star (1967). He was married to Vassiliki Lavina. He died on 10 June 2023 in Athens, Greece.- Composer
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Stavros Xarhakos was born on 14 March 1939 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Koritsia ston ilio (1968), Mighty Aphrodite (1995) and Rembetiko (1983).- Composer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Music Department
Akis Kapranos is known for Xenes se xeni hora: 50 ellinikes tainies mystiriou kai fantasias (2009), Forget Me Not (2014) and Amercement (2020).- Composer
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Stamatis Kraounakis was born on 25 December 1955 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Afti i nyhta menei (2000), Pethainontas stin Athina (2006) and Lockdown Contours.- Composer
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- Soundtrack
Ioannis Konstantinidis, also known by the pen name Kostas Giannidis (21 August 1903 - 17 January 1984) was a Greek composer, pianist and conductor. Constantinidis was born in Smyrna (today Izmir) in 1903. He came to Greece after the destruction of Smyrna and continued his studies in Berlin (1923-1931). He returned to Athens and worked as a conductor and composer at the musical theater composing many operettas, musical comedies, and revues. He would sign and publish his popular works as Kostas Giannidis, and his classical compositions as his birth name. Konstantinidis wrote symphonic, chamber music, music for films, compositions for piano, art songs, and many popular songs. He died in Athens in 1984.- Composer
- Sound Department
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Stefanos Konstantinides (aka Electroware) was born in Athens. He studied piano, jazz music, drums, and fine arts. He is is a very effective producer and electro-inspired musician. His latest work can be heard in the band "drog_A_tek" (an experimental septet loosely in the conceptual path of avant guard music.) He is the ground- breaking role of the Athens electronic music underground scene. He is responsible for the hard urban parties that took place in industrial areas, deserted buildings and squatted universities during the 90's. He owns Fabrika music production studio along with his two partners Nasso Sopilis and Dimitri Papaioannou . Fabrika is a professional music studio , based in Athens/Gazi . It combines inspirational creativity, musical attitude and pristine sound quality. Film music scoring , Theater Music , Sound Design & full music production ,are the basic elements based at Fabrika's Musical Team.- Composer
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Known by his nickname K.B., the guru of electronic music in Greece, Konstantinos Vita, is one of the most famous songwriter in Greece today. He formed the first real electronic scheme in the beginning of 90s called Stereo Nova and then he started a solo career.- Composer
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Stavros Logarides was born on 21 September 1953 in Constantinople, Turkey. He was a composer and actor, known for Oi apenanti (1981), The Murderess (1974) and Oikogeneia Zardi (1983). He died on 14 April 2022 in Athens, Greece.- Composer
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- Writer
Giorgios Papadakis is known for To monon tis zois tou taxeidion (2001), Black + White (1973) and Stagona ston okeano (1995).- Composer
- Actor
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Alexander Voulgaris was born on 22 February 1981 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Pink (2006), Winona (2019) and Thread (2016).Also known as The Boy
Music Sample from Oi Aisthimaties- Composer
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Dimitris Papadimitriou was born on 6 July 1959. He is a composer and actor, known for Sti skia tou fovou (1988), I zoi enamisy hiliariko (1995) and Arhangelos tou pathous (1987).- Composer
- Director
- Writer
Yannis Veslemes is known for Norway (2014), Tetarti 04:45 (2015) and She Loved Blossoms More (2024).Also known as Felizol
Music Sample from Norvigia- Composer
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Mimis Plessas was born on 12 October 1924 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Bullets Don't Come Back (1967), Trikymia mias kardias (1969) and Gorgones kai mages (1968). He is married to Loukila Kerrer-Plessa.- Composer
- Soundtrack
Takis Morakis was born on 15 August 1916 in Athens, Greece. He was a composer, known for The Lobster (2015), The Lost Daughter (2021) and Boy on a Dolphin (1957). He was married to Nandia Konstandopoulou. He died on 26 October 1991 in Athens, Greece.- Composer
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- Soundtrack
Kostas Kapnisis was born on 20 November 1920. He was a composer, known for Panic (1969), Ta heria (1962) and Alexandros o Megas - Anamesa stin istoria kai to thrylo (1977). He died on 5 July 2007 in Athens, Greece.- Composer
- Actor
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Dionysis Savvopoulos was born on 2 December 1944 in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Happy Day (1976), Exoristos stin kentriki leoforo (1979) and Thiasos skion (10 tainies mikrou mikous) (1974). He has been married to Aspa since 1967. They have two children.- Composer
- Sound Department
- Producer
Vangelis Fampas was born in Athens. He studied classical guitar from a very early age with his father Dimitri Fampas. Since the age of 16 he has been involved with composing and performing. From 1979 to 1995 he lived in New York, where he attended post-graduate schools as he simultaneously worked full time as a composer for theater and TV. He received an MA from CUNY and he continued towards a DMA from SUNY. He has been a composer in residence with the Greek theater of NY and an associate composer for CBS and PBS programs. He has scored a good number of theater productions, fiction film, documentary, and commercial film (300+). He produces fiction & documentaries as well as audio projects and music. He is a member of the Hellenic Film Academy and a board member of Autodia Intellectual Property Rights Society of Greece. Since 2002 he has formed Massive Productions, an Audiovisual productions company in Athens Greece.- Music Department
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Nikos Portokaloglou was born on 30 December 1957 in Volos, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Parees (2007), Brazilero (2001) and ...kai dyo avga Tourkias (1987).- Composer
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Yiannis 'Bach' Spyropoulos was born on 2 August 1953 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Mystikes diadromes (2001), Mia melissa ton Avgousto (2007) and I skoni pou peftei (2004).