Right from my arrival at the Philharmonie, I see again some familiar faces. We greet each other, talk a moment before getting into the enclosure. After taking my seat, I rustle around to see the hall. Composed of 2,440 seats, it is built around the stage. The triangular formed seat rows are laid out on various levels. From my seat, I can see the gigantic organ as well as the back step which can be occupied by a choral when the symphony orchestra performs. On the stage, are settled a traditional grand piano, drums, wind chimes, tam-tams, guitars, bouzoukis and several lecterns. In a few minutes, this space will liven up. Suddenly, the lights turn off. After a few minutes wait, the musicians arrive on stage. Music reverberates, the bouzoukis are more and more perceptible. I feel the febrility coming over me. Spectators applaud; they recognized Nana’s figure in the shade. As soon as she begins approaching the stage, the audience stands up to welcome her. Smiling and radiant under the projectors, Nana, as well as her public, enjoys these moving moments of reunion so awaited by all of us.

As soon as she gets close to her microphone, the public is delighted and sits down to listen to her. After her first song, Nana recounts to us her pride that a title like "Weiße Rosen aus Athen" could survive until today. Her nervousness is easily palpable, especially when she has difficulty adjusting her microphone and she says with humour that after three years, she has forgot. But her rendition of "The Wind Beneath My Wings" allows her to take off. The audience starts to take part when it recognizes "Ich schau den weißen Wolken nach", the second great success of her beginnings. The audience accompanies her by clapping its hands to mark the rhythm. Nana carries on immediately with "Weiße Rosen aus Athen", the show’s theme. At the same time, 50 spectators leave their seats one by one to lay down a white rose at her feet and remain in front of the stage to sing with her. On Nana’s face, we can read her emotion towards this completely unexpected gesture. The atmosphere is warmed up.

After long applause, Nana sings "Erotokritos" with all the conviction of a Greek woman. She greets the fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier who is in the hall. He designed the dresses she is wearing tonight; a white dress with open sleeves like the wings of an angel and spangled with gold, and a red tunic with a train set, with charms on the chest and the wrists. Lénou, the first guest arrives on stage. She offers with Nana "Sieben schwarze Rosen", a delicious duet sung with tenderness which unites two generations of women; the daughter and the mother. Then Nana introduces to us a star from her country: Natassa Theodoridou. According to her discography, we would think that she is unilingually Greek, but she sings impeccably in Spanish. Nana, sitting on the back platform, listens to her with admiration before ending the first part with "Le ciel est noir" that even German people know. It should be noted that this song has been rated in the first position during a recent Internet survey carried out with fans.

During the second part, the public is even more enthusiastic. Throughout "Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein", several audience members swing, clap theirs hands, stamp their foot and sing. As soon as the song is over, a spectator implores Nana to do it again. But she must continue her program with her next guest, Aliki Katsarou, which she introduces as her niece. She pleasantly surprised us. Her deep alto voice compliments very well Nana’s voice on the sea themed "Thalassaki mou". Then, Helena Paparizou, an Eurovision star, sings with brilliance "The Rose", a Bette Midler classic also covered by Nana, and duets "Dari dari" with Nana. She performs as well in the International Music as well as in the Greek Folklore. We must not forget the remarkable presence of the musicians: Christophe, Pili, Yannick and Luciano, and also Angelos and Thomas from Greece.

I am absorbed by the show without realizing that time goes by. The concert already comes to an end and Nana leaves the stage to come back under the applause. But there are still some surprises to come as "Try to Remember", "Ela para mou ti lipi" and "Milisse mou" that gather Natassa, Helena, Nana, Aliki and Lénou all on the stage. Theses songs sung with five voices are largely appreciated and are a good example of unity between artists of various generations. Nearing the final moments, we are treated to "And I Love You So" almost sung a cappella in front of several fans gathered before the stage.  "La Provence", a folk song that the public murmurs, then follows, and of course "Weiße Rosen aus Athen" that Nana sings again while enciting the audience to sing along.

«I am happy because we haven’t performed for three years with Nana, since Greece in 2008. Moreover, it was a wonderful tour and I keep nice memories of it both on the musical and non-musical levels because we could make the most of the sea and of the splendid locales. And now, we come back with a concert in Berlin and in Bucharest. And then, there’s a three-week tour in Germany in April. So, for me, it’s a great emotional and musical return with a lot of surprises.»

– Christophe Gallizio,
drums

«It’s a great moment of reunion and a pleasant musical meeting because we play pieces from the Greek Islands taken from the last album which I adore. And thus, it’s the opportunity to play some of the things that we don’t normally do. And I simply enjoy it. So, it’s a great pleasure to come back with Nana. At the present time, there are two consecutive dates. We will dedicate ourselves a bit to that and then after, there’s a tour. We will have the opportunity to ride that wave and to spend beautiful moments.»

– Jean-Philippe Roux (Pili),
bass guitar

«I had a lot of joy meeting up with Nana, all the team of musicians and technicians, as well as the many fans who travelled to attend it. I also really appreciated the presence of the other artists and of the Greek musicians. I think that this concert means Nana’s return on stage with a lot of new upcoming things, starting with the next tour in Germany. She still has the same pleasure to be on stage and we even have the feeling that she’s getting younger. She’s in great form, including in regards to her voice. I will be delighted to take part again in her next projects, even if I will have to juggle them with my other activities.»

– Yannick Deborne,
guitar, bouzouki and vocal

«This concert is for the 50th anniversary of the hit "Weisse Rosen aus Athen". It’s true that for three years, we didn’t do so much apart from some prestigious galas. So, we are very happy to be back in Berlin. Moreover, there are Greek stars, Nana’s daughter and niece who sing and the program includes new titles. Therefore, for us, it’s nevertheless rather absorbing. After Berlin, we fly to Bucharest. This will be another program. And then, we mainly prepare for the April tour which will comprise approximately fifteen dates. Although we come back for three more years, in my opinion, it will be the last tour of Nana in Germany. So, this one will be important.»

– Luciano Di Napoli,
piano, synthesizer and vocal
Band Leader

50 Jahre

"Weiße Rosen aus Athen"

 

Website launched by a German fan couple who share their finds about the white roses' origin.

DAS GOLDENE BLATT
(September 5, 2011)

HEIM UND WELT
(September 5, 2011)

NEUE POST
(September 7, 2011)

FREIZEIT MONAT
(September 30, 2011)

NEUE POST
(October 26, 2011)

NEUE POST
(October 26, 2011)

FREIZEIT MOMENTE
(November 2011)

STARS UND MELODIEN
(November-December 2011)

WOCHE HEUTE
(November 2, 2011)

BERLINER MORGENPOST
(November 24, 2011)

BERLINER KURIER
(November 29, 2011)

BERLINER KURIER
(November 29, 2011)

BERLINER KURIER
(November 29, 2011)

BILD
(November 30, 2011)