Ηρακλής Οικονόμου

We return to rebetiko regularly here at GME because we believe that it is a genre of immense beauty and historical significance. Today, we will be highlighting the next generation of rebetiko ladies that have been at the forefront of rebetiko’s dissemination among a younger audience. Our destination: R...

The week that starts today here at GME is dedicated to rebetiko and specifically to its history and to some current efforts to rejuvenate it. Today, we will be discovering the treasures of an old, multi-LP compilation titled Rebetiko History, curated by researcher Costas Hatzidoulis. This collection was released in 1975-1976 and had a positive ... Read more

Our tribute to leading theatre critic Costas Georgousopoulos (K. H. Myris), who died a month ago, ends today with a selection of sophisticated music pieces composed for ancient drama and comedy translated by him. Four composers are at the heart of today’s GME: Dionysis Tsaknis, Giorgos Christianakis, G...

We have repeatedly turned to two historic albums that Myris and Markopoulos co-created: Ithageneia (Citizenship) and Hroniko (Chronicle). A big part of today’s track list of ours originates from a third, 1983 album of theirs titled Sirens. It is a work that was commissioned in 1981 by the Athens Festival. A...

Costas Georgousopoulos was renowned theatre critic who passed away last year on December 6. Using the nickname K.H. Myris, he also wrote the lyrics of several exceptional songs. Today, we will be exploring his collaboration with Eleni Karaindrou, as well as other leading composers and songwriters such...

Today, we celebrate Saint John and the name day associated with January the 7th! How? Well, by listening to songs created or performed by Greek music artists named Giannis. Our selection includes a broad spectrum of artists, from rebetiko legend Giannis Papaioannou to sentimental vocalist Giannis Parios...

Epiphany, Theophany or ‘Fota’ is celebrated every year on January 6. This is an important feast day of the Christians and several people have their name day today. Therefore, you can easily guess our destination: Songs about Fani, Fanis, Fofo, Fotis and Uranya! Expect some highly original creations by ...

Tonight’s destination: Tarantellas by Greek artists, with a special emphasis on Encardia and Savina Giannatou! Encardia inspire, create and present music and songs through the rich musical tradition of Lower Italy and the wider Mediterranean region. Since 2004, they have performed over two thousand l...

Ghetonia (neighborhood) is a cultural group based in Calimera, Grecìa Salentina in southern Italy. It is a cultural organisation that aims to preserve the music, poetry, language and folklore of the Griko-speaking people by documenting the various aspects of Salento’s traditional life, history and la...

Today, we are celebrating the new year dancing together with the crowds that attend Italy’s biggest live music festival every year. The Notte della Taranta festival is focused on pizzica, a popular variety of tarantella dance, and takes place in various municipalities in the province of Lecce and t...

As our planet is gradually welcoming the new year, we keep celebrating its arrival with tarantellas and pizzicas, the traditional and truly uplifting dances that come from neighbouring Italy. Today, we will be focusing on some of the most fascinating bands of new Italian folk, with an emphasis on Naples...

The week that starts today here at GME remains in a festive, post-Christmas mood, ready to welcome the new year. Our chosen week-long theme comes from neighbouring Italy – tarantellas and pizzicas, dances enjoyed throughout the country and, especially, in the Griko-speaking areas of Salento. Today’s des...

Today, we are concluding our Christmas-themed week here on GME with a wonderful fairytale that two brothers and renowned singers-songwriters wrote for the kids of all ages. Our destination: The Unsmiling City and the Goblins (or Elves), by Haris and Panos Katsimihas: ‘Once upon a time, there was a c...

This week here at GME is dedicated to the celebration of Christmas and its message. It is a message of world peace, solidarity, care and justice. Today, we will be initiated into the festive mood generated by Greek jazzman Dimitris Kalantzis in a dedicated Christmas jazz album, Santa’s Secret Dance, w...

On Wednesday, Christmas Day, we are celebrating the sound of the oud, this beautiful instrument that becomes a demand for tolerance, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence in the hands of virtuoso Ara Dinkjian and his creations included in the album Peace on Earth. Our list for the day will include...

On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we will be singing traditional carols from all corners of Greece, from Kefalonia to Kos and from Epirus to Ikaria, with the Giannis Tsiamoulis Children's Choir and with other choral groups. Παραδοσιακά Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων Την Τρίτη, παραμονή Χριστουγέννων, λέμε παραδοσια...

GME is welcoming the festive season with the explosive presence of Stavros Xarhakos as orchestra conductor in two important musical moments associated with this period of the year: Ariel Ramirez's Misa Criolla with Giorgos Dalaras, and the Christmas Concert with the Youth Orchestra of the Thessaloniki...