The timeless music of Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis (1925-2021) was brought to Beijing for the first time on Wednesday evening at the National Museum of China, celebrating the spirit of Greek cultural heritage, in parallel with the museum's "The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art" exhibition. The show was performed by acclaimed vocalists Tania Tsanaklidou and Maria Papageorgiou accompanied by a live Greek orchestra.

The first part of the concert featured "Correspondence," an album of Theodorakis' songs with new arrangements by Papageorgiou. Inspired by their email exchanges during the project, excerpts from their correspondence were woven into the performance, creating an intimate atmosphere. Through songs and narrative texts, the second part honored Greek Nobel laureates George Seferis and Odysseas Elytis, whose works shaped many of Theodorakis' compositions. During the performance, Tsanaklidou remarked on the cultural kinship between Greece and China, saying, "Our civilizations, though seemingly different, are deeply alike. They share a common memory of ritual, music, and ceremony. China is not a foreign land to us, but a sister from afar." [This remark was translated from the Greek by Electra Kaltsoni.]

Chinese subtitles accompanied the performance, allowing audiences to fully connect with the music and lyrics. A highlight was a solo on the bouzouki, a long-necked plucked lute of Greece. The thunderous applause was a powerful tribute to Theodorakis' enduring legacy and a celebration of Greek-Chinese friendship.

Touring Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanchang, this musical journey fulfills Theodorakis' wish to bring his music to China. "My music comes from the people and must return to the people," he once said.