Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis dies at 96

ATHENS

MIkis Theodorakis, a well-known Greek composer and political activist, died on Thursday, the Ministry of Culture confirmed. He was 96.

In a condolence message, Minister Lina Mendoni said "today we lost a part of the soul of Greece."

"Mikis was global and his work belongs to the whole world ... touched and will continue to touch millions of hearts ... Greeks mourn today," she said.

Theodorakis composed different kinds of music, ranging from operas to symphonic and chamber music based on Western European forms and modern techniques.

Most of his songs were based on Greek poems, which were also performed by popular artists and bands around the world including the Beatles, Edith Piaf and Shirley Bassey.

Mendoni described him as teacher, intellectual, and "the one who made all Greeks sing poets."

He was most known for the music he composed for award-winning film Zorba the Greek in 1964. He won the BAFTA Prize for original music for the film Z (1969), Phaedra (1962), and Serpiko (1973).

Theodorakis was also instrumental in raising global awareness against Greece’s military dictatorship from 1967-74, for which he was arrested and imprisoned, and his works were banned in the country.