Music lovers will soon have the chance to honour one of Greece’s most beloved icons, Nana Mouskouri, as a special tribute concert will be held on October 11, 2024, at Brisbane’s Cremorne Theatre.
The concert, titled The Girl from Greece: A Tribute to Nana Mouskouri, is scheduled for two performances, at 11am and 6pm.
Presented by celebrated performers Katerini Manolatos and Mel Lathouras, the event marks Mouskouri’s 90th birthday, showcasing her incredible seven-decade-long career.
Mouskouri, with over 300 million album sales worldwide, remains a global musical treasure, known for timeless hits such as “The White Rose of Athens” and “Over and Over.”
Katerini and Mel, accompanied by a seven-piece band, including two bouzoukia, transport the audience back to the golden days of Mouskouri’s music.
Fans will enjoy renditions of her greatest hits and Greek classics, including “Turn on the Sun” and “Enas Mythos,” honouring the legendary artist’s contributions to music.
The inspiration for The Girl from Greece came from a deep connection with Brisbane’s Greek community.
It’s not just a tribute to Nana—it’s a celebration of friendship, unity, and resilience.”
“The show was inspired by a family friend, Leo Tsimpikas, who suggested I create a tribute to Nana Mouskouri. It felt natural, as Nana’s music has always been a part of my life,” said Katerini Manolatos, a Brisbane native and classically trained crossover singer, whose childhood was filled with traditional Greek melodies.
A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Katerini is now a respected music therapist, blending her therapeutic expertise with a versatile repertoire spanning Greek, classical, jazz, and contemporary genres.
She explained that fate brought her together with Mel Lathouras, who hails from Bundaberg, and is a soul jazz singer and comedian, well-known for her initiative Fearless Singer. With roots in Asia Minor and a love for Greek café culture, Lathouras’s music fuses elements of 80s Greek pop, rebetiko, jazz, and blues. She brings a rich background in vocal pedagogy and education to her performances.
The two musos discovered a shared vision for the tribute. “We both connected to Nana’s music and our families’ unique Queensland connection to her.”
“For us, this tribute felt like destiny. We feel a responsibility to honour Nana and her legacy,” Lathouras added stressing how Nana Mouskouri was a symbol of hope for Greek immigrants worldwide. “When my family left Greece, there weren’t many Greek figures to look up to. Nana, with her TV appearances and multilingual records, stayed true to her heritage while embracing a new life,” Manolatos shared.
“She brought pride and connection to Greeks abroad.”
The tribute will feature a seven-piece band led by John Reeves, with a guest vocalist and Greek dancers.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas added, “We are proud to foster local talent as Katerini and Mel bring Nana’s story of resilience to the stage.”
For tickets and more information visit the Cremorne Theatre’s website.
