More than a concert, the evening in Izmir (Smyrna) became a living manifesto: a declaration that music and revolution remain inseparable, and that the peoples of the region share a common fight against imperialism, war, and exploitation.
Photographs of Theodorakis, the composer whose life was marked by imprisonment, exile, and ceaseless political struggle, towered over the stage. His music, performed in Greek and Turkish, reminded the audience that art is not decoration but a weapon of liberation.
Leaders of both parties addressed the crowd with sharp clarity. Nikos Sofianos of the KKE and TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan denounced the ongoing bloodshed in Palestine and the broader crimes of imperialism. They called for solidarity among the workers and oppressed peoples of the world, invoking Theodorakis not simply as a cultural figure but as a revolutionary comrade who sang the truth of the exploited.
Artists from both countries carried that spirit into song. Greek singers Aggeliki Toumbanaki and Doros Demosthenous, alongside Turkey’s Gültzhan Altan, brought Theodorakis’ works to life, blending languages and traditions. “We Are Two” and “Denial” rose like chants of defiance, while melodies from Turkish and Arab struggles underscored the international character of resistance.
As the night drew to a close, leaders of the KKE and TKP stood together on stage, a living emblem of solidarity. The message was unambiguous: against the backdrop of capitalist wars, nationalist divisions, and imperialist domination, the peoples of the Aegean have one path forward—struggle, unity, and resistance.
One hundred years after his birth, Mikis Theodorakis remains not only a composer of immortal melodies, but a banner of defiance carried by all who fight for bread, light, and freedom. His songs are not museum relics; they are weapons in the battles yet to come.
