“My ambition,” says Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, “is to play in any place where I can have a contact with people. I would accept an invitation to play in any totalitarian state, whether it was Spain, South Vietnam or South Korea.”
As he spoke during an interview at the tail-end of a week-long stay in Israel, Theodorakis took pains not to offend the country he was visiting. Israel, the left-wing composer was quick to say, could not be considered a totalitarian state. “Israel is often considered an imperialist state in Europe. This outright simplicity is absolutely stupid and isn’t connected in any way with reality,” he said.
“It is evident that Israel is a democratic state,” the composer-in-exile continued, adding that the Jewish State had a solid liberal heritage.
Theodorakis, who encountered large and warmly responsive audiences wherever he traveled in Israel, gave concerts in Jerusalem. Tel Aviv and Caesarea, Conceding that his music is meant to convey a political message, the composer indicated he found both the Jewish and Arab peoples justified in their struggles in the Middle East.
‘THERE IS AN ISRAELI REALITY’
“There is an Israeli reality, as there is an Arab reality, and to deny this would be absurd,” he said emphatically. “The Israeli people is not an ersatz people, it has its roots in this land legally since 1948, in fact already for a hundred years, and by tradition for thousands of years.” Theodorakis contended that Israel and the Arab States have made mistakes in the past, saying “no one is all good or all bad,”
“What exists now are two simultaneous realities, one Israeli and the other Arab. Therefore,” observed the composer, “I often tend to defend the Arabs when I am in Israel and I take positions that may seem radical but I am conscious of the positive character of this country (Israel), and I defend Israel vigorously among my Arab friends. Israel exists and has a right to live, so have the Palestinians.”
Theodorakis likes to say that he is not a star and certainly not just some artist isolated from the masses. He came to Israel, he said, quite simply because he was invited to perform and while here he has found points in common between the Greek and Israeli heritage. “Israeli and Greek folklore have many points in common. The Jewish people–the Israeli people–stand now at a decisive point in its history. The part the Jewish artist has to play is to make a synthesis of this situation and to give it meaning through his art.”
DENOUNCES ARAB ‘FANATICS’
From art, the Greek composer turned to Palestine Liberation movements and had some harsh words to say. “I will never approve fanaticism, crime and cowardice, no matter what side they come from, Taking women and children hostages and having innocents murdered by fanatic mercenaries is cowardice and no pompous revolutionary phraseology will convince me that this is right. We Greek resistants say that violence must be met with violence but this (the acts of the Palestinian Liberation groups) makes no sense.”
He offered comments directed to the Israeli people. He noted initially that the Israelis were “like any other people,” something, he said, David Ben-Gurion had striven for during his political career. “We are convinced that the alliance with the United States results only from a policy of immediate necessity, and that you will keep your independence,” he told the Israelis. Sounding an optimistic note for the future of Israel and of the Middle East, the Greek artist concluded “I do not feel that Israel supports the colonels.”
Theodorakis is known for composing the music for “Zorba the Greek,” and “Z”. He came to Israel in connection with Israel Week festivities. The composer said he had hoped to find a new left which exhibited more human qualities. Israel was a natural source for breeding this kind of humanity because it had founded the first real experiment in human communism, the kibbutz, he added. “I haven’t said that I will definitely find this left in Israel. I am convinced this new left exists everywhere in the world and I hope to find it here too.” he said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
