Maria Farandouri

Maria Farantouri (sometimes spelt Maria Farandouri) (Greek: Μαρία Φαραντούρη), (born 28 November 1947 in Athens, Greece), is a Greek singer and also a political and cultural activist. She has collaborated with prominent Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, who wrote the score for Pablo Neruda's Canto General, which Farantouri performed. During the Greek military junta (1967–1974) Maria Farantouri recorded protest songs in Europe with Mikis Theodorakis. In 1971, she recorded "Songs and Guitar Pieces by Theodorakis" with Australian guitarist John Williams which included seven poems by Federico García Lorca. She has recorded songs in Spanish ('Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara'), Italian, and English ("Joe Hill" and Elisabeth Hauptmann's Alabama Song from Bertolt Brecht's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny), as well as works by Greek composers Manos Hatzidakis, Eleni Karaindrou and Mikalis Bourboulis ('San Elektra' and 'Tora Xero') in which she realised a special fusion of vocal and instrumental beauty with musical accompaniment by Vangelis. She also sang the notable 'Mauthausen Cycle'. Her voice is deep contralto with about an octave and a half range. Maria Farantouri was an elected member of the Greek Parliament from 1989-1993 representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). She is married to the PASOK politician Tilemachos Chitiris.

Links To Peel
Peel played tracks from Mikis Theodorakis who composed many songs featuring Maria Farandouri as singer on his Night Ride show in 1969 and also a year later in 1970 when the opening track of Andonis on the 18 April 1970 show was played after the Greek songwriter and composer had gone into exile in Paris earlier in the week. Not much information is known how Peel got hold of the record.

Shows Played
1969 1970
 * 07 May 1969: Ο Αντώνης (Andonis) (LP - Μαουτχάουζεν / Έξη Τραγούδια (The Ballad Of Mauthausen / Six Songs)
 * 18 April 1970: Ο Αντώνης (Andonis) (LP - Μαουτχάουζεν / Έξη Τραγούδια (The Ballad Of Mauthausen / Six Songs)