Manos Loizos
Sound
Biography
Manos Loïzos (Greek: Μάνος Λοΐζος; 1937–1982) was one of the most important Greek music composers of the 20th century. He was born on 22 October 1937 to Greek Cypriot immigrants in Alexandria, Egypt. His parents came from the small village of Agioi Vavatsinias, in the district of Larnaca, Cyprus. Loizos moved to Athens at the age of 17 intending to study pharmacology but soon gave up his studies in order to concentrate on his musical career. He was a self-taught musician, with no formal musical arts training. His first recordings were made in 1963 but he started gaining a larger audience after 1967. By 1975 Loizos had become one of the most popular artists in Greek music. He died on 17 September 1982 in a hospital in Moscow, Soviet Union after suffering several strokes. He was well known for his leftist political ideology and was an outspoken critic of the Greek military junta. He was also an active member of the Greek Communist Party. The year 2007 was declared "Manos Loizos Year" in Greece. He composed many well-known Greek songs and has co-operated with various important composers, singers and lyricists like Mikis Theodorakis, Haris Alexiou, George Dalaras, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Christos Leontis, Fondas Ladis, Yannis Negrepontis, Manolis Rasoulis, Giannis Kalatzis, Nâzım Hikmet and many others. His best known co-operation was with his very personal friend, lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos who wrote the lyrics of many of Loizos' most successful hits. In 1985, a big concert dedicated to his memory took place in the Athens Olympic Stadium, attended by more than 50,000 people with singers George Dalaras, Haris Alexiou, Giannis Kalatzis, Dimitra Galani and Vasilis Papakonstantinou performing. Manos Loizos' songs and music remain popular until today among all ages of the Greek society.
Known For
Angelos holds nothing in Greece. His sweetheart married his former friend, the woman who once was his first, killed. Here it is just waiting for disappointment, so all the money he buys a ticket to Australia. But while the young man is waiting for departure in his life to happen a new love experience. A chance meeting with Isabella on the ship that was carrying him to Athens, would be for Angelos another test, would lead to a meeting with the past and will be the key to unlocking the old crime.
Provocation
A tenant who wants to write an armed forces officer's biography falls head over heels with his beautiful niece instead. As his friend falls in love with the same girl, they all meet with his sour landlady. But, can one put love on hold?
Mini Skirt and Karate
Aristos, a ship worker and singer at a popular tavern in the evening, is preparing to marry a poor girl, Maryio. One night at the shop comes the rich Elena, which hides the truth about her financial situation, he falls in love with her and separates him from Maryio. However, after an accident, the real identity of Elena is revealed, as is the fact that she is betrothed. Elena, seeing the misfortune she has scattered around her, pretends that Aristos was just an adventure for her and lets him return to Maryio.
The Leventopaido
The heirs of two Cypriot winemakers and sworn rivals visit incognito the city of Paphos to flee from two arranged marriages of convenience, only to meet and fall in love. Is this a star-crossed affair in the likes of Romeo and Juliet?
Vacation to Our Cyprus
A dark atmosphere pervades this film in true noir fashion. So does the feeling that our principals are trapped. They fight their way against economic forces and their status in life, and love might conquer all.
Trouba '67
A documentary about the resistance of the people against the millitary Greek junta.
Songs of Fire
A dedicated classical music tutor who keeps burning bridges with everyone in the name of art is unwilling to reconcile with his successful bouzouki player neighbour. But, can those two bury the hatchet for their children's sake?
Beethoven and Bouzouki
A prostitute (Evdokia) meets a sergeant (Yorgos). They fall in love and get married after a short love affair. Her profession, however, is a barrier for their relationship. They try to stay together and overcome their inner conflicts, but the social environment crushes them.
Evdokia
The letters of an immigrant from Gytheio who went to America at the turn of the 20th century.
Letters from America
A young woman arrives in Athens with her dog after the death of her father, the head of a bouzouki band that broke up because television took away their work. She settles in the humble home of a friend, who is married to a petty crook, and looks for work. At some point, she meets a blind student and a mutual attraction develops between them, which blossoms into love.