Renowned Greek tenor spoke to Alexander Prifti and the newspaper “Liberal” in Cyprus for all that the concern with regard to Greece, and for everyday life abroad. The entertv.gr caught the interview and your show.
-Do you feel nostalgia for the homeland, every time you approach everything that reminds Greece?
-I feel very tender feelings for Greece and anything associated with it. I’m Greek, is my home and always miss when I’m away. Greece is a magnet. While you’re away, ever feel that something draws you to come back to it.
-Ever felt “accountable” abroad or in your cycles and non-art-for Greece and the picture shows the rest of the world today?
- As a proud Greek and logic “in the house of the non dimo” I never felt accountable. However, I must confess that the picture showed Greece in recent years out, it made me really to worry about it and sometimes not to feel so proud. However, I keep to myself a strong, positive, pure and raw love for my country who believe that if the same assessment, will shine as she deserves.
-Because of you international career, you have never thought to return permanently to Greece? Ideally you would like to stay?
-The ideal for me is what happens in recent years: Nearly half the time I’m in Greece and the other half in New York. Of course, the essential connection I have with Greece. This is my country and in it will always come back. But America, like some other places I visit occasionally, it is equally important to me. America is a place I love, especially, I spent some of my student years there and I connected deeply. It is a place to relax and gives me the opportunity to watch closely the arts.
-You are an exceptional artist who pursued studies in music and his side had great teachers like Carlo Bergonzi and Alfredo Krauss. Why not deal with purely operetta repertoire? You for it because music has no boundaries?
Indeed, I was a student too great personalities of the opera and learned many important things from them. I was very lucky that I recognize the good quality, from the paltry and mediocre. My life has shown that there are so many roads and so many other possibilities to reach the audience that you set-that is, that the public will believe that follow-and this is not always a conscious choice, but as a natural result of your choices in song Your attitude to musical things. Definitely not looking for a classic limited audience. I was interested in a more simple, broad relationship much more human and less “serious” than the opera, because it was ultimately too.
-Did you expect that they will never know such a great success and worldwide acceptance?
- I was very lucky. I made good choices, I chose my partners. It got to the point where I choose what the next step, but certainly my success is still not so great nor so wide. I still have work ahead and I have all the good energy and desire to conquer.
-Really, it passes you a typical day? What do you do? What time do you wake up?
-Look, I live a very simple natural life. Studying, listening to music, I walk a lot, thinking, dreaming. I do not lose my vision and move forward. I like working on many different things: new ideas for work, to how to enrich my favorite everyday relationships. All they need their time and attention.
By doing this, the profession-that allows you to travel to many parts of the world-not converted simultaneously hinder your personal life? Did the sacrifice for the sake of work?
-If we sacrifice anything, I would not do this job. I believe that those who are near you and love you truly, to understand, to support, traveling with you and grow with you. These are your people, your faithful friends, your family and good partners. I feel more lonely when I am among many people, even when there is none beside me.
-There are Greek artists that you admire? -I admire the strong personalities and strong, at least we have made the difference: Maria Callas, Manos Hadjidakis, Nikos Gatsos Agni Baltsa. Our great poets such as Cavafy, Elytis, Seferis. I will not go farther, but I will come and will say and contemporary artists. I admire Cantor Alcestis for the moral and the fact that so many years kept a strong and high level. Alkinoos Ioannidis, your countryman, who still writes great songs and our travels with his unique voice. Dear new George Perri just took his first drive in all French speaking countries of the world and makes us all proud.Constantine Markoulaki for options and beautiful Maria Nafpliotou. Also I admire the Myrto Papathanassiou traveling to the world’s greatest operas.
-Excuse me, but I felt uncomfortable at all the last time you went to enjoy the bouzouki?
-I have time to go to the bouzouki. Hard Times!
-Overall, how would you say you’re easy man, Mr Frangoulis? Allow others to approach you?
-I am an easy man but I do not let anyone to approach too close. I’m an old-mentality in the house of the non-dimo and does not make sense not to have close friends who do not know what happens behind closed doors. The only sure thing is that I can not stand pointless discussions about other personal, not them, indeed!
-What are the weaknesses or vulnerabilities you points? -The perfectionism my point so frustrating! I do not like surprises. On the other hand, does not easily say ‘no’ and I was very affable to complaints around the world.
-When was the last time you cried?
-The last time I saw a child to live in squalid conditions.
-Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Something you’d like to make very soon?
-To play major roles in opera and travel the «Beautiful things» all over the world a message of love and peace. I can be, for many years stand to share my experiences and my positive emotions with the world.
-Where do you draw optimism?
-From my inner truth that until now has remained indestructible. With this as the most powerful weapon, will build the tallest tree. Every leaf, every twig and it will be a love song, optimism, joy and strength.
Source: www.entertv.gr
Original article in Greek - Μάριος Φραγκούλης: Συνέντευξη εκ βαθέων
Thanks for the translation !!