Maria Farantouri

Maria Farantouri (sometimes spelt Maria Farandouri) (Greek: Μαρία Φαραντούρη) was born in Athens on 28 November 1947. She is a Greek singer and also a political and cultural activist. She has collaborated with prominent Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, who wrote the score for Pablo Neruda's Canto General, which Farantouri performed. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Farantouri the 18th top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).

During the Greek military junta (1967–1974) Maria Farantouri recorded protest songs in Europe with Mikis Theodorakis. In 1971 she recorded "Songs and Guitar Pieces by Theodorakis" with English guitarist John Williams which included seven poems by Federico García Lorca. She has recorded songs in Spanish ('Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara'), Italian, and English ("Joe Hill" and Brecht's "Alabama Song' from Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny), as well as works by Greek composers Eleni Karaindrou and Mikalis Bourboulis ('San Elektra' and 'Tora Xero') in which she realized a special fusion of vocal and instrumental beauty with musical accompaniment by Vangelis. She also sang the notable 'Mauthausen Cycle'.

Her voice is deep contralto with about an octave and a half range.

Maria Farantouri was an elected member of the Greek Parliament from 1989-1993 representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

She is married to the PASOK politician Tilemachos Chitiris.

Discography

With Eleni Karaindrou

• Elegy of the Uprooting (ECM, 2005)

With Charles Lloyd

• Athens Concert (ECM, 2010)