Dimitris Papadimitriou

Composer

Dimitris Papadimitriou is one of the most important contemporary Greek composers, with a rich and multifaceted oeuvre ranging from symphonic music and poetry set to music, to compositions for theatre, cinema, and television, as well as many widely known popular songs.

He was born in 1959 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Alexandrian Greek parents. He lived in Alexandria, Egypt until the age of seven, and in September 1966, his family settled in Athens.

He began studying music at the age of eight. He studied guitar with D. Zampetakis, E. Asimakopoulos, and G. Miliarésis, and theory with M. Vourtsis. He also studied counterpoint with G. Ioannidis, piano with G. Jonker, and violin with A. Starnoskaya.

In Greek songwriting, he was mentored by, studied with, and collaborated with Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, and Nikos Mamangakis—three masters who all publicly called him their successor. He concluded his studies in composition, in Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under instructors such as Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Steve Reich, and Henri Dutilleux.

His public musical presence began in 1976, when he entered the Athens Law School and composed music for the University’s theatre group. His early works featured in productions such as Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”, or Priesley’s “Time and the Conways”, among others. Oscar winner composer Manos Hadjidakis heard his music, and in 1980 introduced him officially on the Classical Third Radio Channel, where Hadjidakis was director at the time.

Ever since he pursued a creative path which, to date, includes 35 theatrical scores, 32 film and 10 television soundtracks, and 39 vinyl and CD albums, beginning with Electronic music “Topia” (Landscapes) in 1981. He has composed four symphonic oratorios, two piano concertos, one violin concerto, two symphonies, numerous chamber works, three symphonic suites, six symphonic poems, three operas/musicals, and many song cycles. He has written lyrics and musical librettos, mainly for his own works, and has translated song lyrics from ancient Greek and Latin to modern Greek or from Greek to French and English.

Most of his works have been performed publicly in Greece at venues such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the ancient theatres of Epidaurus (both Large and Small), the Ancient Theatre of Dodoni, the Poseidon Temple in Sounio, the Island of Delos, the Roman Odeon of Patras, the Onassis Cultural Centre, the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls (Megaron), and the Pallas Theatre. Worldwide, his music has been performed in New York (Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center; United Nations General Assembly Hall with Rolando Villazón), Paris (UNESCO Hall 2), the Seiji Ozawa Hall of the BSO in Tanglewood, the Library of Alexandria in Egypt (at its official inauguration), and in Vienna, at the Musikverein (Violin and Piano Sonata with Yiannis Georgiadis and Doris Adam).

His film soundtracks have won 9 awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, 4 Greek State Awards, one Iris Award from the Hellenic Film Academy, and 3 international prizes (Valencia Film Festival, International Children’s Film Festival, EBU). In the recording industry, he has been awarded 2 Gold and 3 Platinum Records. His Piano Concerto, recorded by the German label MDG and distributed in 126 countries worldwide and earned three nominations at the prestigious OPUS KLASSIK classical music awards in 2023. His Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 1 were recorded for release by the London Symphony Orchestra with Julian Rachlin as soloist and conductor Georgios Balatsinos.

He composed the global television theme music for the 2004 Olympic Games (“Three Minutes to Countdown”), as well as the music for the lighting and handover ceremonies of the Olympic Flame in 2024.

For 30 years, he was a leading figure at Greek Radio and the ERT Music Ensembles (serving as Director of the Third Programme for 20 years, General Director, and Board Member). He also served for two years, as President of the State School of Dance (KSOT). For the past five years, he has been Composer in Residence at the Onassis Stegi (Onassis Foundation Cultural Centre).

He is also the founder, Artistic Director, and President of The Hellenic Project (To Elliniko Schedio), a cultural organization with vibrant activity.

He began teaching at conservatories at a very young age and was the first in Greece to introduce Film Music as a formal subject, using his own original methodology.

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