0028 GEORGE THEMELIS (1915-1997)

GIORGOS THEMELIS (1915-1997)

The pianist George Themelis was born in Cairo. Blind from birth, he began playing the piano at the age of three and at the age of ten he appeared for the first time as a soloist. He was the first blind pianist to be admitted to the Paris Conservatoire. He graduated from the Conservatory with honors and first prize in 1936. Since then he has distinguished himself as a soloist internationally. In 1947 he appeared for the first time in London and in 1950 he was the first Greek to take part in the Promenade Concerts (at the Royal Albert Hall). Among his numerous appearances and collaborations abroad, those in Russia (1954), in South Africa (1947), in Berlin (soloist of the Philharmonic in 1952), in Chicago (soloist of the Philharmonic in 1970) stand out. He collaborated with the State Orchestra of Athens and the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki from 1954 and for a number of years he continuously took part in the music program of the Athens Festival. In 1979 he was honored with the prize of the Academy of Athens. The file includes: a) Correspondence of him and his family b) Documents: contracts-agreements for concerts, his various applications for allowances and responses, approval of his application for registration in the National Music Council of UNESCO, etc. c) Photographs d) Programs and posters from his recitals in Greece and abroad e) Newspaper clippings f) Archive of Sophia's wife as a member of the Greek Women Guides Corps.