Roda Amaranta

Composer-conductor Mikis Theodorakis, aged 95 this July, is a Greek national institution. While classically trained, since 1958 his compositions and recordings of song cycles and oratorios have referenced local idioms in his own unmistakable style, always with top-flight lyricists or poets, often but not always reflecting his leftist politics. These have provided the soundtrack for momentous events, including the aftermath of the 1967-74 military junta and popular demonstrations during the 2010-15 austerity period.

Born into a musical family -including one in her ten-member band, who also did the arrangements here – Saveria Margiola has sung professionally since the age of 17 and regularly tours Greece. Here she interprets ten Theodorakis evergreens – or rather ‘unwilting roses,’ as the title translates – nine of them from his heyday in the 60s and 70s. Sparse instrumentation – trumpet, violin, plucked/bowed contrabass, acoustic and electric guitars – discreetly sets off Margiola’s evocative voice, except on ‘As Tous Na Mas Koroïdevoun’, where the arrangement is too overpowering. She covers several all-time Theodorakis favourites, so picking a track to try was a frustrating task; ‘Sta Pervolia’ (1962) ultimately won out, since the lyrics (by Theodorakis himself) perfectly capture Greeks’ mid-century experience and stance towards life.