Quality songs and music by unknown composer

Iraklis Paschalidis talks about the choices he has made

By Vassilis Angelikopoulos - Kathimerini

Composer Iraklis Paschalidis, who has been writing music for the theater for 25 years and whose work is much praised, is not known to the greater public because he has hardly released any of his work. This seems strange, given that by now he has a lot of material, but, as he admits, he does not chase opportunities and does not seem too bothered by the result.

“I have written the music for 60 performances and it was always because the phone rang and I was asked to do so,” he said. “Of course, I would like my work to be released. But no one has suggested that to me yet and I don’t have any acquaintances at recording companies.”

He gave the same answer when asked why he didn’t at least hold concerts, either in Athens or Thessaloniki, so that people can get a feel for his music in ways other than theater. “I would very much like to do that, but I don’t know people in the business.”

That was why the performances staged at the Theatro Technis recently, in which Paschalidis’s friends and colleagues Lydia Fotopoulou and Christos Stergioglou interpreted a variety of the composer’s songs, accompanied by him playing the piano, were very special.

“We started preparing this performance two years ago, at the suggestion of the State Theater of Northern Greece within the context of some music soirees it was organizing. We prepared the show but then the theater canceled its program. Lydia, Christos and I then approached the Anoixis Theater in Thessaloniki, where we eventually staged the production. We also presented it at the Naxos Festival in the summer. We got together with the Theatro Technis because our friend, Diagoras Chronopoulos, is collaborating with them this year.” The show’s program only consisted of songs Paschalidis has written and not orchestral parts.

When asked what motivates him to write a song unrelated to theater, Paschalidis stressed the importance of clever lyrics. “Lyrics must have something special and not just be good, because there are a lot of good lyrics.”

Another feature of his non-theater works is that they are still influenced by theater. They are like independent short stories, or one-act plays. “I get told that a lot. I accept it, but I can’t say I understand it. It just happens.”