PAGE 5THE GREEK STARTHURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2010

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CHICAGO—The Second Annual America’s Greek Dance & Choral Competition, un-der the auspices of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad USA Region Youth Network, will take place May 7-9. The event will take place at the the Cretan Fraternity, 5941 North Milwaukee in Chicago.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend Greek folk dance workshops with in-structors from Greece, includ-ing Vasilis Contos, Jordan Elrod and Sandy Papadopoulos, teach-ing dances from the Dodeca-nese Islands, Crete and Pontos.

The weekend’s festivities include an outing to the Fourth Annual Cretan Youth Glendi, on May 8 at the Chateau Rtz in Niles. AGDC participants will pay a reduced ticket price. The Glendi features live entertain-ment from musicians from Crete.

To register, call 312. 627.1821 or email agdcinco@att.net. Vis-it the website for more infor-mation, at www.goagdc.com.

2nd Annual Greek Dance and Choral Competition

By Maria a. KaraMitsos

CHICAGO—The world pre-miere of a magnificent produc-tion called “The Light of Greece: A Celebration of Greek Song and Poetry” brought the golden voice of tenor Mario Frangoulis to Chi-cago this past week. Frangoulis performed with Greek-French singer George Perris and Boston’s acclaimed Greek Music Ensemble, at Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts on April 18. The show brought to life some of the greatest poetry and music by several of Greece’s most legendary composers and poets, introducing them to a whole new generation.

The popular singer arrived in Chicago a few days earlier for pro-motional stops, as well as a pri-vate reception hosted by Dr. Dame Evangeline Gouletas at her Cité Fine Dining Restaurant at the top of Lake Point Tower. There, he gra-ciously greeted fans and spoke about the upcoming show and his love for Greece and its rich musical heritage.

Born in Rhodesia, now Zimba-bwe, in 1966, it was a time of great political upheaval. His parents con-sidered it too dangerous, and sent him to Greece at the age of four, where Frangoulis was raised by his maternal aunt. “I attended Greek school until I was 12. Then I went to a private English school,” he stated. Frangoulis is fluent in sev-eral languages, including English, French, Greek, Italian and Span-ish. He was raised with entertainment all around him. Well-known Greek actress Rena Vlahopou-lou is his aunt. “My fam-ily was always singing, day and night. My Uncle Vangelis taught me my first Neapolitan song, ‘Mama,’” he recalled. Frangoulis studied the violin for 12 years at the National Conservatoire in Athens, where he learned to read and write music. He also sang in a children’s choir, and later, an adult choir. He loved to sing, but it would be years until he’d consider singing as a career; he wanted to be an actor. At the age of 17, he went to London to attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. “The theater was my number one pas-sion. After I graduated, I joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. I appeared in various productions, including ‘Les Misérables,’ at one point doing eight shows a week. I played Marius, the young romantic lead. Later I performed in ‘Phantom of the Opera.’” Marius is one of his favorite roles, which Frangoulis refers to as the role that “initiated my career. It’s very close to my heart and to me as a personality, and as a character. He’s a romantic character, willing to sacrifice his life for his friends and the people he loves. I’m very similar to that.”

Frangoulis portrayed Tony in a production of “West Side Story,” at the famed La Scala in Milan. “Performing at La Scala was such an amazing experience,” he told The Greek Star. “I was part of the last performance there, prior to it being refurbished in 2000. A new millennium and perform-ing a lead role at La Scala, made me feel on top of the world.”

In 1989, while still at Guildhall, a friend noting that Frangoulis had a stunning tenor voice, suggested he audition for the Maria Callas Scholarship for Opera. “Winning the scholarship took me in a whole new direction,” he stated. After he completed “Les Mis,” he auditioned and won a spot to study with tenor Carlo Bergonzi at the Verdi Acad-emy in Busseto, Italy. “The school was home to many young opera singers, from all over the world.”

In 1990, Frangoulis moved to Rome. Singer Marilyn Horne, who became a mentor to him as well, introduced him to the renowned Spanish tenor Alfredo Krause. After auditioning, he became Krause’s private student. “He was

‘Light of Greece’ and Mario Frangoulis Bring New Life to Classic Poetry and Music

a big mentor, a friend and a major influence on my singing. Wher-ever he traveled to perform, I went with him. Ultimately, I sang with him and met people he was sing-ing for. I came to Chicago when

he played the leading role in “Lu-cia di Lammermoor” at the Civic Opera House, and I learned a lot from his masterful technique in voice production. He was so help-ful in my career. No matter what path – grand opera, pure pop song or other genre - he helped enor-mously to get the tone focused and my voice placed in the right place.”

Horne suggested that he come to New York and study at the famed Juilliard School of Music. He came in 1992. In addition to her mentor-ship, Frangoulis calls her “a great teacher.” Through Horne, he also gained the opportunity to study with Canadian soprano Dodi Potero. He graduated from Juilliard in 1995.

Frangoulis competed and won the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition in Philadelphia, which was created to pay homage to the famous tenor as well as his interest in young, fresh voices. “I was the first Greek person to win the competition. It’s an honor, since I am so proud of our heritage, culture, poetry – everything that makes us Greek. From the energy, our love for life, to the beautiful deep blue sea, to the arts,” he said.

In 1996, he made his Greek debut as Billy Kracker in “Happy End” by Kurt Weill at the Theatro Teknis in Athens. He received much positive media attention, and from there he’d become an active part of the Greek scene. Later that year, he sang at the Herod Atticus Theater, where he portrayed Orpheus in “Orpheus Liturgy.” “This was the first time I was able to work with (composer) Yannis Markopoulos. Mikis Theodorakis was conduct-ing, and this led to many opportu-nities with him,” Frangoulis added. He played the lead bird in Aristo-phanes’ “The Birds,” which took him all over Greece, including a performance at the ancient theater at Epidavros, which is a highlight of his career. Frangoulis continued to perform in musical productions and around the world, including Greece, which he still calls home.

In the fall of 2006, Frangou-lis performed at Chicago’s Sym-phony Center, in a benefit for the National Hellenic Museum. For many Chicagoans, it was

an introduction to his work, and they’ve become devoted fans.

The singer loves to sing dif-ferent styles of music, and says he loves what music does to people. “I love opera very much, but I don’t want to be boxed into one category. I‘ve enjoyed working with classi-cal singers as well modern sing-ers. I’m happy for the chance to appeal to a much bigger audience.”

He’s working on a new CD of Hatzidakis songs that will be out in May as well as a new interna-tional recording coming in Oc-tober, called ”Beautiful Things.”

Frangoulis brimmed with ex-citement speaking about “The Light of Greece.” “We’re sharing our passion and love for all the mu-sic and poetry we love, and have loved over the years. It’s a difficult time for Greece; they’re struggling. We don’t want the world to have a bad image of Greece. We want them to know it for its beauty,” he described. “We try, through the music, to have that connec-tion with the audiences. We aren’t trying to deny what’s happening, but rather, we focus on the beauty, through the music of Hatzidakis, Markopoulos, etc. We’re work-ing with talented musicians who studied at Berkelee College, as well as George Perris, who at 25 is an amazing singer, and he has embraced this type of music. He’s holding on to the Greek songs of the past and bringing it to a younger generation. It’s impor-

tant for people to un-derstand our culture. Young people are at-tracted to it – Greek and non-Greek. Our purpose – our mission – is to show the world the light of Greece, from inside out. Great songs give you the power, the strength to carry you and make you feel like you are part of a great world and a great nation that has given so much to the rest of the world. We want to rise up, perform well, and as Greeks feel proud of what we have. If we stay together – and work together – we

can rise up from difficult situations and better our circumstances.”

The production, the first of its kind, combines the works of great poets, including Odysseus Elytis, George Seferis, Kostes Palamas, Dionysios Solomos, Nikos Gat-sos and others, set to music by eminent composers Hatzidakis, Theodorakis, Markopoulos, Pa-pademetriou, Xarhakos and more. “They’re very meaningful works that are well-loved,” Frangoulis stated. The program was created by Professor Athan H. Anagnostopou-los, founder of the Greek Institute in Boston, along with Frangoulis and Elias Malandris. This program underscores the mission of the In-stitute, which was founded specifi-cally to showcase the richness of Greek culture, and to bring to light the formidable artistic and cultural reach that Greece has in the world. Demetra Anagnostopoulos, also with the Institute, has been inte-gral to the project, and Frangoulis became involved on her invitation. “The program is so important --so that all generations of Greek Amer-icans can be exposed to the best Greece has to offer, in a way that is accessible to them,” she added.

The show moves to Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on April 30 and May 1, Boston on May 7 and Baltimore on May 15.

Perris, who was born to a French mother and Greek father, grew up in Athens. “When I was growing up, it was Greek at school and with friends, and French at home,” he shared. He’s wanted to be a singer since he was three. At the age of 18, he was discovered by famous Greek jazz singer Mimis Plessas. The singer has already garnered quite a following. “I have lots of respect and love for music and art.” His CD “Pairno Anasa” was released

Dr. Dame Evangeline Gouletas (center) hosted a pri-vate reception for Mario Frangoulis (left) and George Perris (right) at her Cité Fine Dining Restaurtant at the top of Lake Point Tower in Chicago.

The Whispering Voices of Smyrna

By Dr. Niki KaravasilisPublished by Red Lead Press

ISBN:: 978-14349-6381-9

“Whispering Voices of Smyrna” details the horrible atrocities which the Turks committed by plundering, torturing, mutilating, burning alive and massacring women, children and aged people. These acts were aimed at cleansing lands under Turk-ish control from non-Muslim citizens. This Genocide was perpetrated systematically and repeated through the years 1890-1974. The perpetration of these crimes always took meticulous care so as not to

The

Book Shelf By Themi Vasils

leave traces in order to cover up any incriminating evidence.

This was the case with the fire in 1922 of Smyrna.

In the book, the saga of a Greek family, the Samithakis family lived a life of luxury among the different nationali-ties in Smyrna, until the Turks forced them to flee with oth-er Greek, Armenian and Eu-ropean residents of Smyrna.

Through the eyes of the Samithakis family, one lives the cataclysmic events that de-termined the fate of Asia Mi-nor following World War I.

Dr. Niki Karavasilis is also the author of “Scattered Leaves…The Abducted Greek Children of the Communists: Paidoma-zoma” and “Reaching America.”

in 2008 and includes a duet with Frangoulis. He’s currently record-ing a French album to be released in Canada, France, Belgium and Russia. “It’s brought me the oppor-tunity to meet and work with Lara Fabian, one of the top five divas in the world, and we’ll tour together.”

Chicago’s sold out perfor-mance has brought rave reviews. Concert-goers can’t stop talking about the “beautiful performance.” Comments such as “each song was more incredible than the last,” “it was breathtaking,” “a magical eve-ning,” could be heard. Proceeds from the show benefit the upcom-ing America’s Greek Dance and Choral Competition, May 7-9 in Chicago. Chicagoans, Greek and non-Greek alike, are absolutely in love with Frangoulis – and Ferris, for that matter. The Light of Greece is shining brightly in Chicago.

Mario Frangoulis Photo © 2005 Todd Kaplan.

The Hellenic American Academy, 1085 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL, presents two live shows with the Greek-American rising star of stand-up comedy Ellen Karis in “Greek Chicks Rule!” The shows will be held on Friday, April 30 at 7:30 pm, at the academy and on Satur-day, May 1, at 7:30 pm at the academy. Opening for Karis is Nicolas Livaditis and Aris Theotokatos. Donation, which includes an appetizer buffet, is $25 for adults and $10 for chil-dren ages 16 and under. For res-ervations call (847) 317-1063.

Comedian Ellen Karis to perform