Anástasis is the new cd by the great Greek singer Katerina Papadopoulou. “Anástasis” is the Greek word for resurrection and depicts the theme of this cd: how Greek music travels, changes and stays alive. A beautiful cd by a superb singer, accompanied by an excellent ensemble.

The songs of this project depict an imaginary voyage of the Rose of Jericho through space and eras, in places of the Hellenism. The songs and tunes hail from Asia Minor, Aegean, Thrace, Macedonia, Pontos and South Italy. According to Katerina: ‘It is music that we Greeks carry inside, without even knowing exactly the time of creation. Greek music travels and changes, transforms and persists and stays alive. It is not discovered, not revived. It is alive.’ Dance is intertwined in a primordial coexistence and one can feel the groove and the power that triggers movement.

The Rose of Jericho, the Rose of Virgin Mary or the Resurrection Rose (Anastatica hierochuntica) is a plant of the Middle East, which, after a rainy season, dries up, dropping leaves and curling branches into a tight ball, seemingly dead. When wetted again, the plant wakes up from its dormant state. The last song on this cd is a Hebrew lullaby, as the Anastatica Rose shrivels, falling asleep.

The album was recorded live in the Baumstrasse Theater, Athens (Greece), March 2020

Katerina Papadopoulou: voice, song selection
Stefanos Dorbarakis: kanun, vocals
Kyriakos Tapakis: oud, laud
Giorgos Kontogiannis: Cretan lyra, Aegean Lyra
Chariton Charitonidis: bagpipe, tsambouna, floghera
Theodoros Kouelis: bass
Manousos Klapakis: percussions

Producer Gustavo Pazos shares his views on this album

Without knowing her, I saw Katerina Papadopoulou for the first time at a concert of a Greek oud player where she was invited as a guest; more than 15 years ago now. Although I went to the concert to see the oud player, my attention was completely focused on her when she stepped on stage and started to sing: enchanting!!! She has an extraordinary flexibility, she moves with ease through various singing styles, combined with her unique expressiveness and musicality. Her low, warm voice takes you on a journey. Especially on Anástasis, she takes us to other times and areas where the Greeks once settled. A musical journey in which influences from other traditions merge with her own Greek sounds, which are as lively as ever. Not unimportant is how well her voice is accompanied by an excellent ensemble.