Danae Kara - Hadjidakis: For A Little White Seashell, Six Popular Pictures, Ionian Suite, Rhythmology (2008)

Manos Hadjidakis was born in northern Greece in 1925. He was a constant and authoritative presence in the chaotic Greek scene of the latter half of the 20th century, but was also active in the movie business. His song Never on Sunday won an Academy Award in 1960 for the film of the same name. He died in 1994. This CD presents a collection of his solo piano music, spanning a period from 1947 to 1971. Although he took some classes at the Athens Conservatory, he was largely self-taught. Nevertheless, his music is well constructed and compelling. His language is mainly derived from folk sources, primarily dance, with vibrant rhythms and interesting harmonic flashes elevating the material from banality. Juilliard-trained Greek pianist Kara presents the music with delightful energy and color. -- Fanfare Archive, Peter Burwasser, May/June 2009