Today, Wednesday 19 May, it was announced that the important composer Vangelis passed away last night Papathanasiou.
As it became known, the big one μουσικός and composer had been in a French hospital for days, where he was treated for coronavirus.
Vangelis Papathanassiou was born in Volos in 1943 and began to express his artistic talent at the age of just four. His first public appearance was when he was already six years old. He studied music, painting and directing. One of the first Greek musicians to deal with electronic music, but also our musicians who won an Oscar ("Roads of Fire", 1982). His music was heard in the films Blade Runner, Christoforos Columbus, Alexandros, El Greco, Vortex by N. Koundouros - while he collaborated with the internationally renowned artists Demi Rousso (together they created Aphrodite's Child in France), Irene Pappas (for the important With traditional and church music) and John Anderson for the albums Short Stories, The Friends of Mr Cairo, Private Collection and Page of Life.
The opening ceremony of the 6th IAAF World Open Track and Field Championships at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, with its own music, went down in history, while NASA chose his work "Mythodia" as the music for the 2001 Odyssey to Mars mission. Korea and Japan invested the Soccer World Cup in music, with their own music.
One of the members of Forminx, in the 1960s with 45 gold gold when they released Jeronimo Yanka.
NASA awarded Vangelis Papathanassiou the medal of contribution to its work, something that is rarely given to non-governmental persons. In 1995, the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union named the Asteroid 6354 (6354 Vangelis) after it.
Most of us listen to his music in the ERT news bulletin, in the documentaries of Jacques Yves Cousteau in 1991, but also in many other tributes and championship events.
In his theatrical selections, Michalis Kakogiannis' Electra, starring Irini Pappas - a monumental performance - but also the Royal Ballet for which he worked in the 1980s.
In 2003 he presented his paintings in Spain, and some of them are exhibited in galleries internationally.
Some of his distinctions:
- Oscar for Best Original Song 1982 For the music in the film Roads of Fire.
- Golden Lion at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, for the music Ask the Mountains in a TV commercial.
- Max Steiner Award in 1989, for composition and presentation of distinguished cinematic music.
- Echo Award (Germany) for International Artist of the Year 1992.
- Award of the Flanders International Film Festival (Belgium) for best sound film investment.
- Valencia International Film Festival Award for Best Musical Film Investment.
- Audience Award for Best Motion Picture Film Investment from the World Academy of Music Investment in Flanders, Belgium.
- Apollo Award in 1993 for his contribution to music from the Society of Friends of the National Opera.
- Title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic in 1992. Awarded by the French Minister of Education.
- Twice the Monte Carlo World Music Award, for the best-selling Greek artist.
- The title of Knight of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic in 2001.
- RIAJ (Japan Record Industry) Award for International Song of the Year 2002.
- NASA Public Contribution Medal in recognition of outstanding contribution to NASA's vision in 2003.
- In 2013, the Hellenic Post issued stamps depicting him.
- Honorary doctorate from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2008, awarding him the distinguished title of Emeritus Professor. His doctorate was given for his exceptional contribution to the musical education of the Greek people, as well as for the dissemination of the message of Hellenism throughout the world.
Photo: Ian Patterson – cropped from: File:Jack Lowden, Vangelis, and James McArdle watch the Olympic Torch Relay from the Gielgud Theatre, 26 July 2012.jpg, CC BY 2.0,
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/ – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/ ,
