On Tuesday, 29 September, at 22:00 Athens time, Voice of Greece presents the second part of “Sound Portraits”’ tribute to rebetiko. Stavroula Karali hosts the program, with sound editing by Giorgos Kostopoulos.
The episode, “Rebetiko: Markos Vamvakaris and the World of Piraeus,” takes listeners to Piraeus between the two world wars and explores the people and places that shaped its rebetiko scene.
The songs evoke Markos Vamvakaris and the celebrated Piraeus Quartet, as well as the rebetis, the mangas and the koutsavakis. They bring to life the working-class neighborhoods, gathering places, hashish dens and prisons of the era.
The program also explores rebetiko’s recurring themes: love and separation, poverty and daily work, emigration and the refugee experience. It highlights the prominent place of women’s voices in rebetiko recordings.
Produced and presented by Stavroula Karali
Sound editing: Giorgos Kostopoulos
Broadcast: Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 22:00 Athens time
