Voice of Greece presents the second part of “Sound Portraits”’ tribute to rebetiko. The episode 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