Canto General (Theodorakis)

Canto General is an oratorio for two solo voices, mixed choir and orchestra by Mikis Theodorakis setting texts from Pablo Neruda's cycle of poems Canto General (The Great Song) that covers nature and history of Latin America. The Greek composer and the Chilean poet, who shared political ideas and experiences of persecution, worked together in Paris from 1971 when the composer lived there in exile during the regime of the Greek junta and the poet was ambassador of Chile. The music was developed in three stages: the first version of seven poems was completed and premiered in 1974, the second, with a movement in memory of Neruda added, in 1976, and the final version expanded by five more poems in 1981. The music to the Spanish original text is intentionally accessible and features elements of Greek folk music.