Voice of Greece and the program “Sound Portraits”, produced and presented by Stavroula Karali, present a special tribute to the great Greek poet and lyricist Nikos Gatsos on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, at 22:00 Athens time.
More than three decades after his passing in May 1992, Nikos Gatsos remains one of the most influential and beloved voices in modern Greek culture. A poet of rare lyrical power, he succeeded in forging a deep and enduring bond between poetry and the Greek song tradition, creating lyrics that left an indelible mark on generations of listeners.
His words inspired some of Greece’s greatest composers, including Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, and Stavros Xarhakos, as well as many other leading figures of Greek music.
The program follows the artistic journey of Nikos Gatsos through songs that became classics of the Greek repertoire, performed by legendary voices from earlier generations alongside contemporary artists, proving the timeless appeal and emotional depth of his work.
Gatsos wrote with the same profound sensitivity about love, passion, pain, and loss, as he did about society, inequality, history, and the political traumas of Greece. At times his lyrics felt like intimate confessions; at others, they became a powerful collective cry.
Produced and presented by Stavroula Karali
Sound engineering: Efi Georgopoulou
Broadcast: Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 22:00 Athens time