On 5 October 2022, the legendary singer Maria Farantouri will perform March of the Spirit with GNO bass soloist Tassos Apostolou, and a selection of songs by Mikis Theodorakis with Thodoris Voutsikakis, all conducted by Stathis Soulis and with the participation of the GNO Orchestra and Chorus. Coming after the Axion Esti, March of the Spirit is Theodorakis’ second laïkó (“popular” –as in, of the people– or “folk”) oratorio, composed back in 1969 in the village of Zatouna in Arcadia, where he had been banished and placed under house arrest by the Greek dictatorship of the time. Championing melodic simplicity and the use of folk instruments, and based on a patriotic poem by Angelos Sikelianos, the piece sought to send a clear message of opposition to the regime. The second part of the concert will see the performance of a series of Theodorakis’ most popular songs, orchestrated to be played by a large symphony orchestra – everything from “Streets of old”, “The Song of Songs” and “The laughing lad” to “The beautiful city” and “Dawn is breaking”.