TOGETHER, MIKIS & ZULFU

When Mikis rang me in September 1996 and asked me what I thought about a joint European tour with Zülfü Livaneli, I was immediately convinced of the necessity and success of such an undertaking. Shortly before that, the conflict concerning the Greek Aegean island of Imia had dominated the daily events in both countries. With their planned tour, the two artists , who are friends, wanted to draw attention to the interests of the silent majority, "the ordinary people in Turkey and Greece who have long since buried the ancient hatred. The only things that really interest them are social progress, cultural development and national prosperity which can only be guaranteed by peace and co-operation", as Mikis emphasises in a statement concerning the tour. I was, therefore, amazed by the difficulties which appeared during the organisation of these concerts. The press showed little interest. The "basis" reacted sceptically at first. This showed how difficult, and at the same time important, the Greek-Turkish dialogue was. The floodgates finally opened just a few days before the first concert in Berlin as the dimensions of this initiative were recognised and acknowledged. The press "discovered" the theme and the German political leadership began to support this attempt to bring two cultures closer together. In Bonn, there was a series of meetings between the two artists and politicians from various parliamentary groups (CDU, SPD, FDP, Green Alliance) as well as a reception by the German Foreign Minister, Mr. Klaus Kinkel.
The completely sold out concert in Berlin on the 4.5.97 was to be the last joint performance by the two artists. Mikis had to withdraw from participation in the remainder of the tour due to health problems and subsequently returned to Athens. The TOGETHER CD, then, is a document of an experiment which was not brought to a conclusion.
From the beginning, the truly exciting thing about this production was, for me, its artistic quality. Here were the two most important "singer-song-writers" from Greece and Turkey meeting on stage. Zülfü performed his now legendary songs, spanning two decades. Mikis interpreted his Zeibekika-songs, made famous in the early sixties by Grigoris Bithikotsis which, musically and otherwise, indicate the related roots of the Greek and Turkish musical cultures.

© Asteris Kutulas


MIKIS THEODORAKIS & ZULFU LIVANELI: TOGETHER!
Recorded live at Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin/Germany on May 4th, 1997 by Caroline Siegers and Hartmut Bauer. Mixed and edited at Traumton Digital Studio Berlin by Wolfgang Loos
Produced by Asteris Kutulas


*****

PEOPLE BELIEVE IN SONGS.
Because songs never let them down.

Politicians, military and businessmen have lied to people.
But, songs have never lied.

The songs about friendship which arose from the lands of Turkey and Greece, inspire the joys of life, rather than inciting violence.

The songs sang together have developed as a meaningful symbol of friendship among these two cultures.
In this respect, the concert in Berlin, in 1997 with Mikis Theodorakis has created an emotional bond.

Among my memory, the 4th of May, in Berlin, will stand out as one of the most cherished memories of my life.

© Zülfü Livaneli



*****

OMER ZULFU LIVANELI

Livaneli, film director, writer, composer and performer, was born in 1946. A popular and respected creator, Livaneli has achieved a string of successes as a writer, film director and a musician.

In his accomplished musical career, he has composed music for over 15 feature films, including such award winning films such as Yol (Golden Palm 1982 at Cannes-released by Warner Bros. Records), Suru (The Herd) and Shirin's Wedding. His music has won him many awards, national and international acclaim , and was interpreted by artists such as Joan Baez, Maria del Mar Bonet, Udo Lindenberg, Maria Farantouri , Haris Alexiu, Kate Westbrook.

To date Livaneli has directed three feature films: "Iron Earth Copper Sky", "Mist", and "Shahmaran". He has been awarded the "Golden Palm" in Valencia Film Festival, and The "Golden Antigone" in Montpelier Film Festival in 1989. The "Mist" was nominated for the "Best European Film Award".

His films have been theatrically released in Turkey, France, Germany, Switzerland, USA, and Japan, and have been sold to many network television companies, among them, the BBC, WDR, Spanish, Canadian and Japanese Televisions.

He is Board Member of the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation, which organises the Istanbul Art Festival, and is a founding member of the World Arts Forum (Davos).

Besides his artistic activities, Livaneli has been nationally and internationally active in promoting human rights, the culture of peace and mutual understanding between people.

In October 1986, at the invitation of Chingiz Aitmatov, Livaneli joined Federico Major, James Baldwin, Yashar Kemal, Arthur Miller, Alvin Toffler, Peter Ustinov and other prominent artists and thinkers on the Issyk-Kul Forum, which he met in Kyrgyzstan and later in Wengen, Granada and Mexico City.

Livaneli continues his work and contribution to the world cultural progress and development on the World Arts, along side such figures as Elia Kazan, Jack Lang, Vanessa Redgrave, Arthur Miller, Alvin Toffler, Joan Baez, Wim Wenders, Mikhail Gorbachev.

He is the founder, together with the Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, of the Committee for Turkish - Greek Friendship. He is also one of the founders of the Turkish -Kurdish Peace Movement, as well as the initiator of the "Campaign against Violence", in Turkey, which started in February 1995 and has obtained within one month, 400.000 signatures.

Livaneli is appointed as Special Adviser to Director General and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. He has been working on "Culture of Peace Program" for UNESCO.


*****

Zülfü Livaneli
Walls

Besiege the walls
Arrest them all

No yearning should there be
Nor separation

Remove the walls
Destroy them all

No tyranny should there be
Nor songs like this

Knock down these walls
Turn concretes into ashes

No borders should there be
Nor hostility

Remove the walls
Destroy them all

No tyranny should there be
Nor songs like this



Zülfü Livaneli
Blood Flowers
Did it sprout from the soil or break out from the soul
Everblooming blood flowers bloom again
Is it a song, a poem or dirge
Everblooming blood flowers bloom again

Brooks and rivulets run their way
But neither ever reaches the sea
A wounded rose by the wall
They say the one who wilt the roses won't ever laugh

Smoke and fog came upon this city
Bud of flowers smeared with blood
Mountains bloomed flowers, master blooms trouble
Blood flowers, the bud of hope



Zülfü Livaneli
Your brother doesn't hear you

They want to strangle your voice with their silence
Your fragile heart is broken
You cry at midnight
Your brother doesn't hear you but the stranger does.

You walk through all the barriers
Your heart carries you away
After all the tides
Your brother doesn't hear you but the stranger does.

Don't give up when you see all this
Don't break and don't step to hope
Open your heart to a warm greeting
Your brother doesn't hear you but the stranger does.

© Zülfü Livaneli

 

 

Livaneli
Zu Mikis Theodorakis