Final farewell for Lakis Halkias in Athens

Athens bids farewell today to Lakis Halkias, a towering figure in Greek traditional music, whose funeral will take place at the First Cemetery of Athens at 12:00 PM. The service, conducted at the Holy Church of the Saints Theodore, will be held at public expense, reflecting the esteem in which Halkias was held.

From 10:00 AM, Halkias's body will lie in repose at the cemetery's hall for public viewing and tribute. His family has requested that those wishing to express their condolences consider making a donation to the Hellenic Society for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (ELEPA) instead of sending wreaths. Donation details, including an IBAN and BIC code, have been provided.

Michail (Lakis) Halkias, who passed away at 82, leaves behind an indelible musical legacy. Born in Ioannina, he hailed from the historic Halkias family, renowned for their deep tradition in folk music. His musical journey began in childhood, and by age 16, he was a professional musician, recording his first albums at 18. With a voice of rare timbre and a distinct, powerful delivery, Halkias served Greek song through various genres, from Epirotic laments and songs of emigration to interpretations of major poetic works.

Throughout his extensive career, Halkias collaborated with many of Greece's most celebrated artists, including singers Sotiria Bellou, Grigoris Bithikotsis, Stelios Kazantzidis, and Nikos Xylouris, as well as composers like Yiannis Papaioannou, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Markos Vamvakaris, Mikis Theodorakis, and Manos Hadjidakis. His voice became synonymous with the great social and political struggles of the dictatorship and post-dictatorship eras. He notably interpreted poems set to music by Marios Tokas, such as those in the 1981 album "My Bitter Generation." Halkias also championed folk music through recordings and performances and authored a book titled "2,500 Years of Greek Music."