OdesFrontIntroduction

Irene Papas (Irene Lelekou, 1929-2022) was a renowned Greek actress and singer, who starred in over 70 films, not only in Greece but in international movies such as "The Guns Of Navarone" (1961), Michael Cacoyannis' "Zorba The Greek" (1964) and Costa-Gavras’ "Z" (1969). Often Papas played the role of the heroine in ancient Greek tragedies like Antigone (1961) and Electra (1962), and together with director Michael Cacoyannis she created several films based on the original plays of Euripides, such as "Trojan Women" (1971) and "Iphigenia" (1976).

Irene first met Vangelis in 1970 in Italy, where both participated on the Italian television show “Incontro con gli Aphrodite’s Child e Irene Papas”. As a singer Irene had just recorded and released several songs of Mikis Theodorakis, and Vangelis liked her voice, as demonstrated by her contribution of the controversial vocal on the ‘Infinity’ track of Aphrodite’s Child final album “666” later that year.

The two kept in touch and in 1978 decided to record an album together in Vangelis’ Nemo Studios in London. “Odes” is a collection of traditional Greek songs, newly arranged by Vangelis in his signature electronic style, with Irene Papas singing the Greek lyrics. According a 1978 Greek magazine article the album was first presented in Athens, Greece in August that year, while a general release followed in the rest of Europe in 1979. In Greece Irene Papas promoted the album by singing songs from the album in a 48-minute television special.

In 1986 Vangelis and Irene Papas again worked together to record more traditional Greek songs for their second album “Rapsodies”. In 2007 the Odes album received a re-release which was personally remastered by Vangelis. The listening experience is more clear and warm compared to the original release, personal opinions vary on which master is the best version.

OdesPhoto2Next to acting in films, Irene Papas also performed in and staged many Greek tragedies in theatres. For several of those Vangelis provided a musical score for the play, i.e.:

  • "Electra" (1983) performed at the Epidaurus theatre in Greece
  • "Medea" (1992) performed at the Theatre Grec in Barcelona (Spain)
  • “Theodora” (1994) performed at the Culturgust in Lisbon (Portugal)
  • "Las Troyanas" (2001) performed at the Altos Hornos workshops in Sagunto (Spain)
  • "Ecuba" & “Le Troiane” (2003) performed at Tor Vergata University in Rome (Italy)
  • "Antigone" (2005) performed at the Greek Theatre in Syracuse (Italy). 

At the end of her career Irene Papas presided three acting schools, the "City of the Scenic Arts" of Sagunto, the "Tor Vergata" of Rome and the "To Skolion" of Athens.

Aged 93, Irene Papas passed away on the 14th of September 2022.

 

OdesTracklistTracklist and credits

  1. Les 40 Braves
  2. Neranzoula (Le Petit Oranger)
  3. La Danse Du Feu*
  4. Les Kolokotronei
  5. Le Fleuve
  6. Racines*
  7. Lamento
  8. Menousis

* composed by Vangelis

  • Arranged, produced and performed by Vangelis.
  • Lyrics by Arianna Stassinopoulos and Irene Papas.
  • Choir: Ioa Paraschou, Sotiris Zalidis, Stathis Zalidis, Kyriacos Kajourakis, Vasilis Kapetaniannis
  • Sound engineers: Keith Spencer-Allen and Martin Duncklau
  • Photo by Veronique Skawinska.
  • Sleeve design by Alwyn Clayden.

 

OdesCDDiscography

LP

  • 1979 Polydor 2417343 West-Germany
  • 1979 Polydor 2473109 The Netherlands, France and Spain.
  • 1980 Polydor 2473109 Greece
  • 1981 Polydor 3293300 Argentina (titled “Odas”)
  • 1992 Polydor 833864-1 South-Korea
  • 2023 Cobalt Music 5206999013617 Greece (45th Anniversary Edition)

CD

7” single

  • 1979 Les 40 Braves / Les Kolokotronei (Polydor 2815209) France (promo)

 

OdesPhoto1Recording studio

The music for Odes was recorded in 1978 at Vangelis' own Nemo Studios in London.

 

More

  • Vangelis played 'Les 40 Braves' in a different arrangement during the Olympic Flame ceremony held in Athens in 1988.
  • Some of the music of Odes was used as a score to the film 'Russicum' (also known as 'The Third Solution') in 1989.

 

Links