Glykeria and Melina Aslanidou, hailed as two of Greece’s finest vocalists, delivered an unforgettable evening of celebration at the Melbourne Pavillion last Monday.
Following their successful performances in Adelaide and Sydney, the duo, accompanied by a talented orchestra, captivated the Melbourne audience, offering a deep dive into their greatest hits and beloved songs from eminent Greek composers.
Attendees were treated to a much anticipated night of revelry and dance with hits spanning generations.
Glykeria, also known as “the voice of Greece,” stands as one of the most authentic folk singers of her generation, while Melina Aslanidou is a renowned interpreter of both folk and contemporary genres.
Under the artistic direction of Stelios Fotiadis, the concert commenced with a duet by Glykeria and Aslanidou, echoing the sentiments of their opening song, “Pame Mazi Ap’ Tin Arhi” (Let’s Go Together from the Beginning).
As the night unfolded, the energy soared, and nearly everyone in the Melbourne Pavillion was on their feet, with flowers continuously showering the performers.
The venue brimming with attendees, sang-along and danced to the rhythm of Greek melodies for almost four hours across genres the likes of island tunes, folk melodies, rembetika, and aristocratic rembetika from bygone eras to contemporary laika and entehna songs.
Both artists included songs from other prominent Greek artists such as Dalaras, Parios, Papazoglou, Vitali, Alexiou, and many more, in addition to their own personal discography.
The musicians accompanying the seasoned orchestra played pieces from influential contemporary and classical Greek composers, including Hadjidakis, Theodorakis, and Loizos.
At the end of the night the singers, both of Anatolian descent, performed songs dedicated to various regions of Greece.
Starting from the unforgettable homelands with rhythms from Asia Minor, Smyrna, Constantinople, and Pontus, the musical journey continued through Macedonia, Thrace, Crete, and the rest of Greece.
The night concluded just before 2am with the anthem “Ah, Ellada S’ Agapo” (Oh, Greece, I Love You) which they sang together with the audience.
