"I like to concentrate on
the poetry and the message
in the songs I'm singing."

- Nana Mouskouri -

Articles

New Zealand - 2005 > 1985 > 1974 >

1974

Nana Mouskouri enjoys the music she makes nearly as much as her audience. Like a chameleon of the emotions, on the Auckland Town Hall stage last night she magically became her songs rather than imposed herself on them.

Presenting the final concert of a month-long Australasian tour, she looked at times more like a prim Edwardian governess than an international singing star.

But when she opened her throat she was unmistakably a song-teller of wide-ranging beauty.

Love Songs

Her pure voice keening, gay and fierce by turn, she presented modern love songs and French, Greek and Elizabethan love songs in a relaxed, natural style which charmed her audience.

From the applause which greeted the opening of many numbers it was clear her television shows had already won her an audience.

"Scarborough Fair", "Seasons in the Sun", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Try To Remember" were some of the well known English songs she interspersed with less familiar French and Greek ones.

Athenians

The Athenians band led by Miss Mouskouri's husband, George Petsilas, were talented musicians who could present their own music as well as provide the singer with harmonious vocal and musical backing.

The show had a touch of closing curtain lightheadedness. Miss Mouskouri at times broke down in giggles and guitarist Yussuf Allie, one of the four Athenians, received a candle-decked birthday cake on stage - a month late.