# Thanos Mikroutsikos

Athanasios "Thanos" Mikroutsikos (Greek: Αθανάσιος (Θάνος) Μικρούτσικος; 13 April 1947 – 28 December 2019) was a Greek composer and politician. He is considered one of the most important composers of the recent Greek musical scene.

## Biography
### Personal life

He was born on 13 April 1947 in Patra. He was the older brother of Andreas Mikroutsikos, who is also a musician/composer and a television show host. His wife was children's author Maria Papagianni, whom he married in 1996. He died on 28 December 2019, after a long fight with cancer, at age 72.

### Music

He studied piano and composition in the Philharmonic Society of Patras, in the Hellenic Conservatory, and privately with Yiannis Papaioannou. In addition, he studied Mathematics in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He began composing at the end of the 1960s but only officially debuted in 1975, with the release of his album Politika Tragoudia ('Political Songs'). He continued on this compositional path, setting to music the poems of Giannis Ritsos, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Manos Eleftheriou and Bertold Brecht, amongst others.
His albums Kantata gia ti Makroniso (Cantata for Makronisos), Fouente Ovehouna (Fuenteovejuna), Troparia gia Foniades (Hymns for Murderers) and Mousiki Praxi Ston Brecht (Musical Practice on Brecht) are characteristic of the climate of Metapolitefsi or Regime Change that was taking place in the period 1975–78. In particular, the Cantata for Makronisos, a pioneering piece in which Mikroutsikos experimented with atonality was extremely well received in international music festivals and an interpretation of particular note was recorded by Maria Dimitriadi.
His next album, Stavros tou Notou (Southern Cross), set to the poetry of Nikos Kavvadias, opened up further musical avenues for him, combining theatre, electronic music and atonality (a second album, Grammes ton orizondon, set to the poetry of Kavvadias was released in 1991). With the same devotion to poetry, he continued to set the works of Giannis Ritsos, Alkis Alkaios, François Villon and Constantine P. Cavafy, amongst others. In addition, he has written an opera, Eleni (Helen) and set to music several children's fairytales.
He has worked with many renowned singers such as Maria Dimitriadi, Haris Alexiou, Manolis Mitsias, Dimitris Mitropanos, George Dalaras, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Christos Thibaios, Miltiadis Paschalidis, Rita Antonopoulou and Giannis Koutras, amongst others. His music has been particularly well received and recognised in Western Europe. During his compositional career, he has managed to liberate the form of Greek song, adding together elements from the modernist and classical western tradition. He also experimented with the combination of tonal and atonal sounds and with morphological variation.
He was artistic director of the New Music Society and the Musical Analogion, whilst he also worked with and directed the Patras International Festival.

### Politics

He was involved in Greece's political life since the 1960s. During the turbulent years of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, he was persecuted by the regime for his anti-dictatorial activities and ideas. When the junta collapsed, he continued being actively involved in politics as a member of the maoist EKKE, especially in the first years after the restoration of democracy.
After the elections of October 1993, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Culture by the new Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government, serving alongside the late Melina Mercouri who was Minister of Culture. He was appointed to Mercouri's position when she died in 1994, a position he kept until 1996.
He was a supporter of the Communist Party of Greece.

## Works (selection)

* Musical Act for Brecht for two male voices, two clarinets and a piano (text: Bertolt Brecht), 1972-78
* Cantata for Makronisos for female and male voice, small orchestra and tape (text: Υannis Ritsos), 1976-82
* Study for Vladimir Mayakovsky for voice and small orchestra (text: Vladimir Mayakovsky), 1976-82
* Euripides IV for narrator, soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, bassoon, trumpet, horn and piano (text: Euripides), 1979
* The Moonlight Sonata for voice and piano (text: Υannis Ritsos), 1979-81
* Preludes for guitar, 1981
* The Old Man of Alexandria, song cycle for voice, mandolin and piano (text: Konstantinos Kavafis), 1982
* Opera for One (flutist) for flute, 1983-84
* Duo for alto saxophone and electric bass, 1985
* The Sea for string orchestra and trumpet, 1991
* The Return of Helen, opera in one act in six movements based on a libretto by Christos Lambrakis (with poems by Yannis Ritsos) for nine voices, mixed choir, orchestra and a trio, 1992-93
* Return to the Future 1 for clarinet and marimba, 2003
* The sea smiles from over there for mezzo and string quartet (text: Federico García Lorca), 2009

## Discography

Albums :
| Year | Greek Title | Transliteration | Translation | Label |
| 1972 | Είμαστε κάτι ξεχαρβαλωμένες κιθάρες / Οι Δων Κιχώτες | Eimaste kati xecharvalomenes kithares / Oi Don Kichotes | We are rickety guitars / The Don Quixotes | Minos |
| 1975 | Πολιτικά τραγούδια | Politika tragoudia | Political songs | Lyra |
| 1976 | Καντάτα για την Μακρόνησο | Kantata gia tin Makroniso | Cantata for Makronisos | Lyra |
| 1976 | Σπουδή σε ποιήματα του Βλαδίμηρου Μαγιακόβσκη | Spoudi se poiimata tou Vladimirou Magiakovski | Study on the poems of Vladimir Mayakovsky | Lyra |
| 1977 | Φουέντε Οβεχούνα | Fouente Ovechouna | Fuenteovejuna | Lyra |
| 1977 | Τροπάρια για φονιάδες | Troparia gia foniades | Hymns for murderers | Lyra |
| 1978 | Τραγούδια της λευτεριάς | Tragoudia tis lefterias | Songs of freedom | Lyra |
| 1978 | Μουσική πράξη στον Μπέρτολτ Μπρέχτ | Mousiki praxi ston Bertolt Brecht | Musical practice on Bertolt Brecht | Lyra |
| 1979 | Ο σταυρός του νότου | O stavros tou notou | The Southern Cross | Lyra |
| 1980 | Ευριπίδης IV | Evripidis IV | Euripides IV | Lyra |
| 1981 | Λεοντής-Μικρούτσικος: Συναυλίες 81 | Leondis-Mikroutsikos: Σynavlies 81 | Leondis-Mikroutsikos: Concerts 81 | CBS |
| 1982 | Εμπάργκο | Empargko | Embargo | CBS |
| 1983 | Ιχνογραφία – Ο γέρος της Αλεξάνδρειας | Ichnografia – O geros tis Alexandreias | Sketch - The old man from Alexandria | CBS |
| 1983 | Αραπιά για λίγο πάψε να χτυπάς με το σπαθί | Arapia gia ligo papse na chtypas me to spathi | Arab lands stop hitting with your sword for a while | CBS |
| 1984 | Βίκτωρ-Βικτωρία | Victor-Victoria | Victor/Victoria | CBS |
| 1985 | Αντιθέσεις | Anditheseis | Contrasts | ΕΤ.ΝΕ.Μ. |
| 1985 | Ντούο για άλτο σαξόφωνο και ηλεκτρικό μπάσο | Douo gia alto saxofono kai ilektriko baso | Duet for alto saxophone and electric bass | ΕΤ.ΝΕ.Μ. |
| 1986 | Η αγάπη είναι ζάλη | I agapi einai zali | Love is dizzy | Μinos |
| 1987 | Στον Μάνο Λοϊζο-Νύχτα με σκιές χρωματιστές | Ston Mano Loizo-Nychta me skies chromatistes | (Dedication) To Manos Loizos-Night with coloured shadows | Μinos |
| 1988 | Όλα από χέρι καμένα | Ola apo cheri kamena | All from a burnt hand | Μinos |
| 1989 | Ελλάς κατόπιν αορτής | Ellas katopin aortis | Greece after an aneurysm | CBS |
| 1989 | Όσο κρατάει ένας καφές | Oso krataei enas kafes | As long as a coffee lasts | Minos |
| 1990 | Για πιάνο και φωνή | Gia piano kai foni | For piano and voice | Minos |
| 1990 | Κρατάει χρόνια αυτή η κολώνια | Krataei chronia afti i kolonia | This cologne lasts for years | Minos |
| 1991 | Γραμμές των οριζόντων | Grammes ton orizondon | Lines of the horizon | Minos |
| 1992 | Συγνώμη για την άμυνα | Sygnomi gia tin amyna | Sorry for the defence | Minos |
| 1992 | Music for Two | | | Minos |
| 1994 | Volpe d'amore | | | EMI |
| 1996 | Τα παραμύθια της γαλάζιας γραμμής | Ta paramythia tis galazias grammis | The fairytales of the blue line | Minos |
| 1996 | Στου αιώνα την παράγκα | Stou aiona tin paragka | In the shanty house of the century | Minos |
| 1997 | Ποίηση με μουσική | Poiisi me mousiki | Poetry with music | EMI |
| 1997 | Η ιστορία της Λούλου | I istoria tis Loulou | The story of Lulu | EMI |
| 1997 | Ψάξε στ'όνειρο μας | Psaxe st'oneiro mas | Search in our dreams | Minos |
| 1998 | Στην αγκαλιά της άκρης | Stin agkalia tis akris | In the embrace of the edge | EMI |
| 1998 | Ο Θάνος Μικρούτσικος τραγουδά Θάνο Μικρούτσικο | O Thanos Mikroutsikos tragouda Thano Mikroutsiko | Thanos Mikroutsikos sings Thanos Mikroutsiko | EMI |
| 1998 | For sax and strings and love and dreams | | | Agora |
| 1998 | Slow motion | | | EMI |
| 1999 | The return of Helen | | | EMI |
| 1999 | Θάλασσα στη σκάλα | Thalassa sti skala | Sea on the stairs | Minos |
| 2000 | Σφεντόνα Live | Sfendona Live | Slingshot Live | |
| 2000 | Ο Θάνος Μικρούτσικος στη Λύρα | O Thanos Mikroutsikos sti Lyra | Thanos Mikroutsikos at Lyra | |
| 2000 | Live Στη Σφεντόνα | Live Sti Sfendona | Live at Slingshot | Minos/EMI |
| 2001 | Του Απείρου Εραστής | Tou Apeirou Erastis | Lover of infinity | |
| 2001 | Dance and Memories | | | EMI Classics |
| 2001 | Οι Κυρίες Του Θάνου Μικρούτσικου | Oi Kyries Tou Thanou Mikroutsikou | Thanos Mikroutsikos's ladies | Minos/EMI |
| 2001 | Στον Τόπο Μου Είμαι Τέλεια Ξένος | Ston Topo Mou Eimai Teleia Xenos | I am a perfect stranger in my place | Minos/EMI |
| 2002 | Αυτά Που Τραγουδήσαμε | Afta Pou Tragoudisame | Those (songs) which we sang | Minos/EMI |
| 2002 | Ολα Τα Πρόσωπα | Ola Ta Prosopa | All the people | Minos/EMI |
| 2002 | Ο Άμλετ Της Σελήνης | O Amlet Tis Selinis | Hamlet of the moon | Minos/EMI |
| 2004 | Σχοινοβάτης | Schoinovatis | Tightrope walker | Minos/EMI |
| 2006 | Υπέροχα Μονάχοι | Yperocha Monachoi | Perfectly alone | Legend |
| 2007 | Παράξενο δεν είναι; | Paraxeno den einai? | Isn't it weird? | |
| 2009 | Επέστρεφε (Καβάφης) | Epestrefe (Kavafis) | He came back (Cavafy) | |
| 2009 | Τους Έχω Βαρεθεί / Θάνος Μικρούτσικος Σε Συνεργασία με τα Υπόγεια Ρεύματα | Tous Echo Varethei/ Thanos Mikroutsikos Se Synergasia me ta Ypogeia Revmata | I am bored of them / Thanos Mikroutsikos in collaboration with undercurrents | Legend |