Maria Farantouri — London
The two-octave contralto who became the voice of modern Greece.
About the event
Part of the Maria Farantouri European tour presented by Atlantis London. The London date is staged at Cadogan Hall, bringing the artist’s full live band and show production to British & European audiences.
For information about the artist — including biography, signature songs and notable collaborations — see the dedicated section below. This concert is part of a multi-city run; related dates on the same tour are listed at the bottom of this page.
Maria Farantouri
Athens, Greece · born 1947 · 1960s – present
Born in Athens on 28 November 1947, Maria Farantouri is a Greek contralto whose career became inseparable from the political and cultural story of her country. She rose to prominence during the Greek military junta (1967–74), recording protest songs in exile alongside composer Mikis Theodorakis, a collaboration that would define both their artistic legacies.
Her two-octave range has carried works by Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, George Gershwin and Bertolt Brecht, and she is acknowledged internationally for her interpretations of Federico García Lorca settings and Pablo Neruda’s Canto General. Farantouri also served as an elected member of the Greek Parliament (1989–93) for the Panhellenic Socialist Movement.
Awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (2004) and the Premio Tenco (2014), Farantouri has recorded for ECM with Eleni Karaindrou and Charles Lloyd, and is regarded as one of the great chamber voices of her generation.
Signature songs
- Canto General (Theodorakis/Neruda)
- Alabama Song
- Hasta Siempre Comandante
- Lorca settings
- Joe Hill
Notable albums
- Canto General (multiple versions)
- Elegy of the Uprooting (ECM, 2005)
- Athens Concert (w/ Charles Lloyd, ECM, 2010)
Collaborations
Warm up with Maria Farantouri
Give the setlist a preview — here are the most-streamed tracks ahead of the London night.
Open in Spotify