The Greek musician Vangelis died this Thursday, May 19, at the age of 79. But what did the composer of the “Chariots of Fire” and “Blade Runner” soundtracks die from?
Greek composer Vangelis Papathanassiou, known as Vangelis, has died aged 79. The announcement was made this Thursday, May 19, by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “The music world has lost international (artist) Vangelis”, he said on Twitter. His lawyer announced that Vangelis died in a Paris hospital, where he was being treated for Covid-19. The death took place, as reported by the Greek agency Athens News Agency, Tuesday, May 17, at night. The musician shared his life between Paris, London and Athens.
He was noted for having composed the soundtracks of the films The Chariots of Fire, blade runner Where Disappeared, of his compatriot Costa-Gavras (1982). Its characteristic sound, the result of the use of analog synthesizers in the 1970s, was nourished by the roots of Greek folk music and the choral music of the Orthodox religion.
Self-taught in music, Vangelis grew up in Athens and formed his first band in 1963, called The Forminx, playing the pop music of the time. In 1968, he left for Paris to pursue his career, where he formed the progressive rock quartet Aphrodite’s Child with Greek expatriates, including Demis Roussos, who notably released the single “Rain and Tears”, which was a success throughout the world. ‘Europe.
The musician began to be linked to the world of science fiction due to the characteristic “spatial” sound he developed in some albums such as Albedo 0.39but also thanks to the composition of the original soundtrack of the film blade runner from Ridley Scott, to the series Cosmos and projects with NASA and the European Space Agency.
Vangelis continued his film soundtrack work throughout the 70s, but it was in the 80s that he reached his peak with the soundtrack of the chariots of fire, for which he received the Oscar for best music. Music has become synonymous with slow-motion sports montages. “My music doesn’t try to evoke emotions like joy, love or pain from the audience. It just goes with the image, because I work in the moment,” he explained.
The composer has also been commissioned by sports bodies to create the soundtrack for major events, including the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and the 2004 Olympics. in Athens.
Vangelis has received the Max Steiner Film Music Award, the Legion of Honor in France, the NASA Public Service Medal, and Greece’s highest honor, the Order of the Phoenix.