Vangelis

 

[1943 -] Keyboardist and composer of electronic music, the Greek Vangelis Odyssey Papathanoussiou was one of the most popular musicians of his generation. His work was emblematic of a post-experimental period in the rock, where the electronic instrumental music was popularized.

 

Vangelis founded the progressive group Aphrodite's Child next to Demis Roussos, at the late 60s. In the early 70s, the musician moved to France where he recorded soundtracks for several documentaries. L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1973) was one of the first and he was followed by Les Chiens Aboyer Entends Tu (1975), La Fete Sauvage (1976) and Opera Sauvage (1979). Some of his songs have become popular in the voice of Jon Anderson (of group Yes) as So Long Ago So Clear, I Hear You Now and Deborah. His first major success in film was the trail of Chariots of Fire (1981). Following came Missing (1982) of Costa Gavras and Blade Runner (1982) of Ridley Scott, one of Vangelis greatest moments. The partnership with Scott would extend the successful music of 1492 (1992). The album Invisible conections (1986) was one of his most daring experiments and still had the curiosity to have been released by the label Deutsche Gramophon dedicated exclusively to classical music. In 2004 Vangelis returned to the usual epic grandeur on soundtrack for the movie Alexander directed by Oliver Stone.