Thousands of people expressed their own «thank you» on Saturday night to one of the leading figures of Greek music, Stavros Xarchakos, blending their voices with those of great performers in songs that have raised generations and generations and, like any high cultural creation, elevate man.
At the beginning of the KKE's tribute concert to Stavros Xarchakos, the Secretary General of the KKE's KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, spoke, referring to the essence and importance of the creation of Stavros Xarchakos, whom he thanked for «his art, his ethos and his attitude», while in his own greeting the great composer spoke of «a historic day», as «never in the cultural events of the country has what is happening here today».
Stressing that «the only party that has the guts to implement the transgression is the KKE», Xarchakos added that «if it were not for the initiative of the Secretary of the KKE's Central Committee, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, we would not have had tonight's evening. I thank him from the bottom of my heart».
Immediately afterwards, the Peace and Friendship Stadium was flooded with music from «Mana mou Hellas» and «This World is Good» and «Chondrobalou», in songs - hymns for the struggles of our people: «Nyn und aei» from the album of the same name with lyrics by Nikos Gatsos, «Saturday night in Kaisariani» with the censored lyrics: «On the nights we wrote slogans on the walls, we fell down shouting down the Germans».
But also «Pilgrimage», the song that was added to the performances of «Our Great Circus» after 1974 for the dead of the Polytechnic.
With Stavros Xarchakos on stage conducting, Dimitra Galani, Natassa Bofiliou, Iro Saia, Manolis Mitsias, Giorgos Dalaras and Miltos Paschalidis performed the great songs created by the composer.
Special moments of the concert were the way in which «It was once» was performed with the great musicians taking on the role of performers and «I am burning - I am burning», in which the whole stadium accompanied the song with their mobile phone lenses open.
Even «We Who Stayed» which they all performed together.
At the end of the concert, D. Koutsoumbas went on stage and offered Stavros Xarchakos a painting by the communist artist George Varlamos from his famous «Wildflowers», repeating once again a warm and big thank you to the great creator who offered and continues to offer to the country.
The musicians played: Neoklis Neofytidis (piano), Vassilis Drogaris (accordion), Iraklis Zakkas (bouzouki, mandolin), Dimitris Reppas (bouzouki, mandolin), Pantelis Ntziolas (electric and acoustic guitar), Alexandros Kapsokavadis (classical guitar), George Pappas (lute, night strings), George Pappas (lute, night strings), Vangelis Paschalidis (santouri), Yannis Diskos (wind instruments), Stefanos Hatzianagnostou (flute), Dimitris Kazanis (violin), Haris Kellaris (electric bass), Takis Vasileiou (drums, percussion).
The sound recording was done by George Korres, George Koleventis, Antonis Zahopoulos, while the lighting was done by Maria Athanasopoulou.
Earlier, Mr Koutsoumbas met with the artists and performers who participated in the concert, while he also met with director Kostas Ferris, veteran footballer Mimis Domazos and filmmaker Nikos Kavoukidis.
