Mikis Theodorakis - Το Τραγούδι Του Νεκρού Αδελφού

"The Song of the Dead Brother" was staged for the first time on October 15, 1962 at the Kalouta Theater by Manos Katrakis' Ελληνικό Λαϊκό Θέατρο (=Greek People's Theater). The texts were by Mikis Theodorakis, the direction by Pelos Katselis, the sets and costumes by Nikos Nikolaou and the choreography by Zouzou Nikoloudes (who also played the role of the mother). The protagonists of the play were Manos Katrakis, Vera Zavitsianou, Despina Bempedeli, Nikos Xanthopoulos, Betty Arvaniti, Maria Konstantarou and Thodoros Exarchos.
The music was performed live on stage by Gregoris Bithikotsis (vocals), Lakis Karnezis (bouzouki), Kostas Papadopoulos (bouzouki) and Stavros Plessas (guitar).
The work is about the passions of Greece during the Civil War (1946-1949), which concludes with the unifying message "Unite rocks, rocks, unite hands, hands" and was dedicated to the unity of the Greek people. Aesthetically, it came to carve its own dramatic path among the multitude of Mikis Theodorakis' music, which was mostly characterized by poetic "song cycles".