Greek Composers Union to Present Hatzis

Jan 11th, 2010

The Ensemble of the Union of Hellenic Composers is to present Dance of the Dictators by Christos Hatzis at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens, Greece this week.

The Greek Composers Union was instituted in 1931 and continues its activities today by promoting Greek music internationally, organizing concerts and conferences and publishing scores and recordings. Since 1989, Mr. Theodore Antoniou, composer, conductor and teacher at Boston University, has served as President of the Committee for the Union.

Dance of the Dictators, for piano trio, is a standalone work from Hatzis’ larger multimedia music theatre work Constantinople. Hatzis notes that Dance of the Dictators was inspired by his own memories from adolescence – members of the ruling junta preaching cultural nationalism and then dancing tangos during leisure time – and by the ‘dancing’ strategies used by Saddam Hussein and the Coalition leaders attempting to sway public opinion during the weeks preceding the 2003 invasion of Iraq.