Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Encyclopedia
Eleftheria Arvanitaki (born October 16, 1957 in Piraeus
) is a Greek
folk singer. She originates from the island of Icaria
. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV
ranked Arvanitaki the sixth top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).
.
In August 2004 she participated in the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics
.
She has performed in several WOMAD and other festivals. In 2006 she took part in the Christmas concert "Frostroses" in Reykjavik, Iceland as a part of a group of singers named "European Divas". The other "divas" were Sissel Kyrkjebø
(Norway), Eivør Pálsdóttir
(Faroe Islands), Petula Clark
(UK), Ragga Gisla (Iceland) and Patricia Bardon (Ireland).
Thanks to her contract with Universal Music Group
's jazz
label Verve Records
, her music has enjoyed international release and exposure to some extent. Verve
has subsequently assigned her to the EmArcy
label, Universal
's European jazz
arm, whose focus includes developing local European talent to an international calibre. Her recordings are all generally produced under her native signing with Universal Music Greece
.
She is a cousin of award-winning Greek Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras
.
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
) is a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
folk singer. She originates from the island of Icaria
Icaria
Icaria, also spelled Ikaria , is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, 10 nautical miles southwest of Samos. It derived its name from Icarus, the son of Daedalus in Greek mythology, who fell into the sea nearby. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Ikaria peripheral...
. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV
Alpha TV
Alpha TV is a Greek terrestrial channel . The station features a mix of Greek and foreign shows with an emphasis on entertainment programs. The studios are located near Athens...
ranked Arvanitaki the sixth top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).
Career
Arvanitaki started her career in singing in 1980, by joining the group "Opisthodromiki Kompania" / "Οπισθοδρομική Κομπανία" (Retrograde Company) and in 1981 she had her first guest appearance on a CD, by being featured in the album of Vangelis Germanos titled "Ta Barakia". She broke away from the group and started a solo career in 1984 with her album Eleftheria ArvanitakiEleftheria Arvanitaki (album)
Eleftheria Arvanitaki is an album by popular Greek artist Eleftheria Arvanitaki released in 1984 in Greece by Lyra Records. It is her debut solo studio album...
.
In August 2004 she participated in the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
.
She has performed in several WOMAD and other festivals. In 2006 she took part in the Christmas concert "Frostroses" in Reykjavik, Iceland as a part of a group of singers named "European Divas". The other "divas" were Sissel Kyrkjebø
Sissel Kyrkjebø
Sissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
(Norway), Eivør Pálsdóttir
Eivør Pálsdóttir
Eivør Pálsdóttir is a Faroese singer/songwriter with a distinct voice and a wide range of interests in many kinds of music from rock, jazz, folk, pop, to European classical music. Her roots are in the Faroese ballads....
(Faroe Islands), Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
(UK), Ragga Gisla (Iceland) and Patricia Bardon (Ireland).
Thanks to her contract with Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
's jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
label Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, her music has enjoyed international release and exposure to some extent. Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
has subsequently assigned her to the EmArcy
EmArcy Records
EmArcy Records is a jazz record label founded in 1954 by Mercury Records, and today a European jazz label owned by Universal Music Group. The name is a phonetic spelling of "MRC", the initials for Mercury Record Company....
label, Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
's European jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
arm, whose focus includes developing local European talent to an international calibre. Her recordings are all generally produced under her native signing with Universal Music Greece
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
She is a cousin of award-winning Greek Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras
Anthony Maras
Anthony Theo Maras is an Australian film director, writer and producer born in Adelaide, South Australia.-Biography:Maras graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a degree in Law and Legal Practice , before going on to study both film production and "Law and Society" at the...
.