NEW RELEASE
IOANNA KALOGERAKI
Ta Tsala­komena

Ta Tsala­komena marks the first comprehensive presentation of the majority of the set poems of Giannis Theodorakis brought together in a single album — a recording project of distinct artistic significance.

The collection features ten songs by Mikis Theodorakis, set exclusively to poetry by his brother Giannis Theodorakis, and constitutes the fifth personal album by Ioanna Kalogeraki.

Kalogeraki’s deep and expressive mezzo-soprano voice embraces each verse with intensity and tenderness, revealing the dramatic structure and emotional density of the work. The bandoneon of Argentine musician Roman Gomez adds subtle bridges of melancholy and Argentine nostalgia, enriching the sonic landscape with authenticity and depth.

The Story Behind the Songs

“Giannis wrote wonderful lyrics,” notes Mikis Theodorakis. “But at that time, in Crete, it was not considered very manly to be a poet. He wrote them in secret, and I would find the crumpled pages with his poems thrown here and there.”

These poems, written by a creator who placed himself within the so-called “Generation of Defeat,” express the unspoken story of a generation raised amid personal and social disillusionment. The “crumpled” pages become witnesses of an era and, through music, are transformed into living art.

The musical settings were composed primarily between 1952 and 1954 in Chania, Athens, and Paris. Initially, Mikis Theodorakis himself believed these songs would be heard only by a few friends. History proved otherwise: their truth and strength led them to become recognized works of the Greek musical heritage.

A New Approach

In this new recording, the bandoneon functions as a second interpreter. With tenderness and dramatic sensitivity, it comments on the words, responds to the voice, and breathes alongside it. Each opening and closing of the instrument feels like a pulse of memory — from nostalgia to inner eruption.

Ioanna Kalogeraki’s interpretation highlights the delicate balance between personal confession and collective experience.

This collection is not simply a re-performance of well-known songs. It is a journey through a generation — a meeting point of personal memory with historical and political experience, expressed through the power of music.

Each verse is a small defeat that refuses to fall silent. And the music unfolds the “crumpled” poems once again, giving them a new voice.

Ioanna Kalogeraki – Biography

Ioanna Kalogeraki studied classical voice and has released three previous solo albums:

Canciones Españolas Antiguas by Federico Garcia Lorca

A personal selection of French lyrical songs under the title Nuits Embaumées

Cinq Mélodies Populaires Grecques by Maurice Ravel, in French and Greek texts

She has also released the collection Akroprora, featuring songs by Giannis Kalomoiris for piano, flute, and voice.

Credits

Lyrics: Giannis Theodorakis
Music: Mikis Theodorakis
Vocals: Ioanna Kalogeraki
Bandoneon: Roman Gomez
Recording: Sierra Studios
Sound & Visual Engineer: Alexandros Chrysidis

Cover Artwork:
Composition With Yellow Circle
Artist: Evi Michelaki

Official Website:
https://www.ioannakalogeraki.gr

Released digitally by Protasis Music on all major digital platforms.

Spotify: https://bit.ly/3ZGvpMc

iTunes/ Apple music: https://apple.co/4qF6Hqs

Deezer: https://bit.ly/3MO4NWL

YouTube album playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfZuyBymkXCHJPxpt49R60COgII5EDHqY