Do you think you know everything there is to know about Anna Vissi?
Ceremony for her 40 years in the musical industry; Well, nearly 40.
On the 9th July, New York College's Educational Group celebrated the end of the academic year and organised a graduation ceremony in Athens in collaboration with other foreign universities in the group.
Anna Vissi was invited as a special guest at the ceremony in Athens and Pritanis awarded Anna with an Honorary Doctorate in Arts for her contribution to music!
Anna sang her hit “Ta mathitika xronia” acapella and advised the students to follow their hearts, their mind and their individuality. Referring to her career she said, “I am still on fire, I have more things I want to achieve”.
As if we didn't already know!!!
On the 9th July, New York College's Educational Group celebrated the end of the academic year and organised a graduation ceremony in Athens in collaboration with other foreign universities in the group.
Anna Vissi was invited as a special guest at the ceremony in Athens and Pritanis awarded Anna with an Honorary Doctorate in Arts for her contribution to music!
Anna sang her hit “Ta mathitika xronia” acapella and advised the students to follow their hearts, their mind and their individuality. Referring to her career she said, “I am still on fire, I have more things I want to achieve”.
As if we didn't already know!!!
3/09 Mega TV (Cyprus)
16/12 – Mega me mia (Mega channel)
On the 17th February, Anna played an unplugged show at the Greek Automobile Museum for the charity gala for Chrisanthi Lemou’s Life Action Trust Foundation.
One of the main people present on the night was Prince Michael of Kent and many other invited representatives from the Greece and the Britain’s’ business sector.
The Life Action Trust foundation gives out scholarships to talented new artists and supports other charity organisations. Other guests on the evening included: Vicky Kaya, Marieta Xrousala, Nonika Galinea along with other famous Greek faces. Meanwhile, Roula Koromila and Takis Zaharatos were the evening’s presenters.
This is the third time that Anna has been in the company of British royalty. Anna previously sang at Prince Charle’s birthday (2001) and at another similar charity gala of Christanthi Lemou’s which took place at Kensington Palace (2008).
One of the main people present on the night was Prince Michael of Kent and many other invited representatives from the Greece and the Britain’s’ business sector.
The Life Action Trust foundation gives out scholarships to talented new artists and supports other charity organisations. Other guests on the evening included: Vicky Kaya, Marieta Xrousala, Nonika Galinea along with other famous Greek faces. Meanwhile, Roula Koromila and Takis Zaharatos were the evening’s presenters.
This is the third time that Anna has been in the company of British royalty. Anna previously sang at Prince Charle’s birthday (2001) and at another similar charity gala of Christanthi Lemou’s which took place at Kensington Palace (2008).
“I have been in the Church’s firing line twice now. The first time, they accused me of acting unsuitably because I would sing and…shut my eyes (1970). The second time, it was while we were doing the first run of Demons the musical (1990), the Church presumed Karvelas and I were “Satanists” because our rock-opera broached themes of Satanism and Demonism."
24/08 – Down Town magazine (Cyprus)
24/08 – Down Town magazine (Cyprus)
“- What has been your career highlight so far?”
I think it was when I played the role of Mala. The plot, the music and the period of my life at the time will forever be engraved in my body and soul. When I look back at that play, the emotion I feel is far greater and different than for anything else that I have done since.”
13/07 - Newspaper Proto Thema
I think it was when I played the role of Mala. The plot, the music and the period of my life at the time will forever be engraved in my body and soul. When I look back at that play, the emotion I feel is far greater and different than for anything else that I have done since.”
13/07 - Newspaper Proto Thema
“Would you collaborate again with other colleagues, like Anna Vissi?”
Why not? I do not have barriers or limitations in my choice of who I work with. In any case, it is never just my choice but a joint decision of both artists. It takes two to tango! On the other hand, it depends on the season, the timing, the reason for collaboration. Seen as you mentioned Anna, we have worked together on many occasions, I met her at the start of her career and we worked really well together! She is a legendary artist!”
01/04 - Yiannis Parios, Interview on Joy TV
Why not? I do not have barriers or limitations in my choice of who I work with. In any case, it is never just my choice but a joint decision of both artists. It takes two to tango! On the other hand, it depends on the season, the timing, the reason for collaboration. Seen as you mentioned Anna, we have worked together on many occasions, I met her at the start of her career and we worked really well together! She is a legendary artist!”
01/04 - Yiannis Parios, Interview on Joy TV
“(Ntalaras) trapped (Anna Vissi) in a musical repertoire that was more suited to him rather to her. This is something she later commented upon in retrospect."
Makis Matsas, “Behind the scenes of 40 years of Greek Music” by Dioptra Editions.
Makis Matsas, “Behind the scenes of 40 years of Greek Music” by Dioptra Editions.
Comments
We might not have had a new album this year but…we had had enough of the gossiping. It was as if someone had jinxed Anna and as result, the whole nation was talking about her the whole year.
The year started off with gossip surrounding Despina Vandi’s “secret” visit to the Panthion music hall to watch the “Ena i kanena” show. As soon as she posted a photo of herself in the audience, twitter went into overdrive with people presuming that a “historic visit” was made until the following day that is, when we learnt that the two singers never bumped into each other as Despina only popped by Antoni Remo’s dressing room.
The year started off with gossip surrounding Despina Vandi’s “secret” visit to the Panthion music hall to watch the “Ena i kanena” show. As soon as she posted a photo of herself in the audience, twitter went into overdrive with people presuming that a “historic visit” was made until the following day that is, when we learnt that the two singers never bumped into each other as Despina only popped by Antoni Remo’s dressing room.
Throughout July, the TV continued to bang on about how much money had been spent during Anna’s annual concert at Jackie O’ beach in Mykonos. In true “journalistic” style, well-paid TV personalities somehow forgot to mention how the money spent did not come from Greek paying guests but from foreign Princes and fashion designers who also paid to Greek workers’ wages. Of course, we are used to this type of petty journalism and quickly got over it.
The “exclusives” struck again. This time, the papers got hold of Anna’s application to the local council for damages caused by a flood in front of her house due to bad maintenance of the drains. The “valid” report did not concentrate on the damages of the singer’s belongings and, more specifically, on her gym equipment she owned.
Constant remarks on her financial situation came to a head on the 29th September during the presentation of her new show that was to be put on at the Pantheon theatre. She chose this platform to talk about comments made by the singer Michalis Violaris regarding how much money she earns.
Anna was pretty clear with her comments so, there is no need for us to add anything:
“Whatever the beloved Michalis Violaris said, whom I met when I was 12 and not seen since, I like him, I respect him and acknowledge that all that he has done in his work has, so far, been good. Many people came out of the woodwork and said a lot about me. They have the right to. Now, what their aims are for doing so are never clear. I am not sure if I should say that I am still “current” so they get airtime of the back of me or that they are just “not relevant” anymore themselves. This is not in direct reference to Michalis of course, oh God no! I have learnt to not care because, if I start taking too much notice of all the things that are written about me, I will waste precious time which I prefer to dedicate to things that are worth it my time”.
Anna was pretty clear with her comments so, there is no need for us to add anything:
“Whatever the beloved Michalis Violaris said, whom I met when I was 12 and not seen since, I like him, I respect him and acknowledge that all that he has done in his work has, so far, been good. Many people came out of the woodwork and said a lot about me. They have the right to. Now, what their aims are for doing so are never clear. I am not sure if I should say that I am still “current” so they get airtime of the back of me or that they are just “not relevant” anymore themselves. This is not in direct reference to Michalis of course, oh God no! I have learnt to not care because, if I start taking too much notice of all the things that are written about me, I will waste precious time which I prefer to dedicate to things that are worth it my time”.