The Hellenic Voice - Published Article 11/14/07

Mario Frangoulis Celebrates an Amor Concert

- Cambridge, MA - The Greek Institute sponsored a presentation of Mario Frangoulis in concert on October 28 at Harvard University's Sanders Hall. The energy level along with the delight of the concert-goers was phenomenal. Frangoulis, a tenor with the ability to perform with a powerful energy and passion in Greek, English, Spanish and French, pleased the crowd with his songs and brough down the house with several encores.
His admirers were vocal in their admiration of him and requested songs. His good-nature and ability to move to serious themes reflects a well-earned reputation of the consummate professional.
The concert included lyrics from poems of Federico Garcia Lorca, a revered poet and dramatist from Spain, and the songs the passion of the concert, reflected Frangoulis' power and energy; that is Greek. He enlightened and moved his audience.
The concert included Theodore Economou of Athens on piano, who is one of the primary creative partners with the tenor. Also performing was Robert Curtis, violin; John Damian, guitar; Lydios Blendi Dhamis, bass; Rod Ferland, flute/carinet; Panagiotis Liaropoulis of Athens, keyboards; Ricardo Monzon, percussion; Anthony Pentikis, bouzoukia; and John Ramsay, drums.
The concert hall filled with music an poetry was presented with sponsorshop of Demetra Anangnostopouls and Vassilios Karabetas, the Behrakis Foundation, the Costas and Mary Maliotis Charitable Foundation, Peter J. Tamis, President and the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, NYC.
Frangoulis will be a featured performer at the November 16 benefit for Boston homeless at the Strand Theater.

Doctor Zhivago..years later!

The question was..What is your favorite book & why? Okay, two questions..then the group was given..perhaps ten minutes to write. Write all about it.
From deep within, this exercise illicited the following:

Pasternak's 'Doctor Zhivago' has been an important book in my literary life. ( I read it on the recommendation of my mother, one summer in the sixties). The main character's conflict with living his life and writing poetry against the backdrop of major political changes in Russian remains an exceptional reading experience & one which I still empathize and identify with.

Dr. Zhivago had a talent; writing poetry, however, he was also a medical doctor. His angst with his creativity and training in a profession, trying to chose and trying to do both well...is amazing to me. I was so atuned to his perspective in this novel...I felt that I was him & didn't want the book to end.

I have always enjoyed Russian literature; the emeshing of philosophy, spiritual & political movements with the individual choices of men. Zhivago is a Russian derivative of 'life' & as in the movie 'Z' the energy, passion & pathos of humanity..moves the spirit.

(to be continued)

Words of Thanks

'Each new morning with its light,
for rest & shelter of the night,
for health & food,
for love & friends,
for everything thy goodness sends.'

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanksgiving 2007 - Family Prayer