Renowned Greek Composer Mimis Plessas Passes Away at 99

The news in Greek

1. διάσημος
   γνωστός σε πολλούς ανθρώπους για κάποιο σημαντικό επίτευγμα ↩︎
2. συνθέτης (m.)
   πρόσωπο που δημιουργεί μουσικά έργα ↩︎
3. θέατρο (n.)
   χώρος ή οργανισμός που παρουσιάζει θεατρικές παραστάσεις ↩︎
4. συνεργάζομαι
   δουλεύω μαζί με άλλους για κοινό σκοπό ↩︎
5. πολιτιστικός
   σχετικός με την κουλτούρα και τον πολιτισμό ↩︎
6. κληρονομιά (f.)
   τα στοιχεία της παράδοσης και της ιστορίας που μεταφέρονται από γενιά σε γενιά ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: What type of music was Mimis Plessas known for?

Question: Who was one famous singer Mimis Plessas worked with?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
συνθέτης (m.)	composer
θέατρο (n.)	theatre
συνεργάζομαι	collaborate
πολιτιστικός	cultural
κληρονομιά (f.)	heritage
διάσημος	famous

Read the full story

Born in Athens on October 12, 1924, Plessas began his illustrious career as a pianist, becoming the first pianist to perform solo at the National Radio Foundation at age 15. He later pursued studies in Chemistry at the University of Athens before furthering his education in the United States, where he received the first prize for music at the University of Minnesota in 1952.

Plessas’s work spanned across multiple domains including theatre, cinema, radio, and television. He composed music for over 100 films and 70 theatre productions, and his compositions for television series such as “The Children of Niobe” remain particularly influential. His collaborations with leading Greek singers such as Marinella and Nana Mouskouri helped introduce Greek music to a broader audience.

Throughout his career, Plessas received numerous awards both locally and internationally, including honours in Barcelona, Paris, and Tokyo. His work was recognized with several gold and platinum discs. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award in Athens for his 50-year contribution to Greek music.

The news of his passing was shared by his wife, Loukila Karrer Plessas, who paid a heartfelt tribute to him on social media. She expressed gratitude for the life they shared and remarked on the enduring nature of their love.

Plessas’s influence extends beyond his music, as he was also known for his role as a radio producer and his active participation in artistic committees. His legacy is marked by a versatile portfolio that ranges from jazz to folk and classical music.

He is survived by his wife and two children, including his son from a previous marriage, the composer Antonis Plessas. As Greece grieves his loss, Plessas’s music continues to be a vibrant part of the country’s cultural heritage, ensuring his memory will live on through his timeless melodies.

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