Theodorakis banned from event for saying anti-Semitic statements

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When you speak your mind, and in this case when you say something that is anti-Semitic then you risk being put on the blacklist. The latest victim, Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, who is known to speak his mind at the ripe age of 89. Following a decision by Austrian National Council President Barbara Prammer,  Theodorakis did not traditionally perform to the song trilogy 'Mauthausen'  this year at the commemoration of the 66th anniversary since the liberation of the Mauthausen extermination camp, on the grounds that the now composer has made "repeated anti-Semitic statements in past years".

It needs to be reiterated that the song cycle, set to music the works of Greek writer Iakovos Kampanellis, stands as one of the Theodorakis’ influential meta-symphonic compositions of the mid-60s. The memorial service, which has been held at the Austrian Parliament each year on May 5 since 1997, was held yesterday in the presence of the Austrian President Heinz Fisher.

Memorial services are also scheduled to take place on Sunday at the site of the former concentration camp, where it is said that some 122,000 people were killed by Nazi authorities, including 3,700 Greeks. Prammer is to head the Austrian delegation at these events, which include dozens of delegations from other European nations whose citizens were victims of the camp. These are to include a delegation from Greece.