On Tuesday, 22 September, at 22:00 Athens time, Voice of Greece presents the first of three episodes in the “Sound Portraits” tribute to rembetiko, with Stavroula Karali at the microphone and Giorgos Kostopoulos handling the sound editing.
The episode, titled “Rembetiko: From the musical roots of Asia Minor to Piraeus,” traces the musical origins of rembetiko both in mainland Greece and in the major multicultural cities of Asia Minor, with particular emphasis on Smyrna and Constantinople, where different musical traditions and cultural influences met and interacted.
After the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, refugees brought their melodies, songs, dances and musical instruments to Greece. Prominent musicians and composers from Asia Minor and Constantinople also contributed to the development of the Greek recording industry.
The musical journey in this first episode reaches Piraeus, where the bouzouki and baglamas became increasingly prominent and a new sound began to emerge.
Produced and presented by Stavroula Karali
Sound editing: Giorgos Kostopoulos
Broadcast: Tuesday, 22 September 2026, at 22:00 Athens time
