Cypreco’s Concert Dedicated to Manolis Hiotis

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This past November, CYPRECO of America, Inc., presented with great success at the Stathakion Cultural Center in Astoria, New York, its concert/tribute to Manolis Hiotis, the legendary bouzouki virtuoso, songwriter and singer of rembetika (Greek blues) and Laika (popular folk) songs who wrote his own unique history in Greek music during the last century.

The program revived some of the most popular and loved songs of Manolis Hiotis and engaged the audience from beginning to end. More importantly, the concert gave the opportunity to all in attendance to set aside for a while any hardship they felt following the devastating landfall of hurricane Sandy that struck New York just two weeks ago prior to the performance. People were enthusiastically singing and clapping along throughout the performance while many were so into the show they could no longer stay in their seats and got up and started dancing to the great zeimbekika and tsiftetelia of Hiotis.

This overwhelming response of the crowd who frequently gave standing ovations during the performance was truly rewarding to the organizers but more importantly to the exceptionally talented artists of FANTASIA Music. The two bouzouki players Mike Stoupakis, and Kostas Psarros who also performed the baglama were captivating and incredibly synchronized producing exceptional sounds. Equally captivating were Dimitris Lambrianos on the keyboards, George Maniatis on the drums and the singers Sophia Tzini and Christos Zavolas whose unique voices revived so beautifully the songs of Manolis Hiotis. Psarros who also has a very distinct voice also sang a few great rembetika by Hiotis. The concert was scheduled to run for two hours, but because of the exceptional warmth and enthusiasm of the crowd, the musicians continued to play for another 45 minutes.

Referring to the success of the Manolis Hiotis Musical Tribute, Elena Maroulleti, President of CYPRECO and Concert Executive Producer after acknowledging the difficulties many people faced getting to the venue, especially with the gas shortage, she expressed her most sincere thanks and gratitude to all in attendance who as she stressed, “despite all odds” they made the effort to come to the concert. “Seeing all these happy faces this evening, makes us feel exceptionally proud and at the same time very humble for being able to lift up their spirits and help them set aside and forget, at least for a couple of hours, the burden they felt following the hurricane and have some real fun …During this very difficult time when everyone is trying to recover, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been severely impacted by the devastating effects of hurricane Sandy.”

The concert which was given to benefit the non-profit and commercial-free radio AKTINA FM broadcasting on New York’s public Station WNYE 91.5FM, was made possible in part by Arch Capital Services, Inc., the Cyprus Federation of America and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, all of whom were publicly acknowledged by the Helena Maroulleti in her opening remarks and also in the printed program which also included other biographical and background information about the concert and the activities of CYPRECO.

©2012 NEOCORP MEDIA





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