The Voice of Marika Ninou by Marika's Dream

Born Evangelia Atamian in 1921 on a ship during her Armenian family's exile from Cilicia following the Genocide, Marika Ninou grew up as a refugee in Kokkinia, Greece. Guided by her music teacher Aris Kalfaian, she rose to become one of the most celebrated stars of Rebetiko music in the 1940s and 1950s, famously partnering with composer Vasilis Tsitsanis. Despite her fame, she often hid her Armenian heritage to avoid discrimination in Greece. In this session, trio Marika’s Dream will perform some gems of Rebetiko that were first sung by the one and only Marika Ninou. Together, we will collectively listen to her haunting and heartfelt songs which speak of love, loss, and the pain of dispossession. 

Marika's Dream is Aspa Anogiati (lyra, vocals), Ergün Kayabaş (tambouras) and Charlotte Sheer (accordion).