MICHAEL PLATYRRAHOS

A worthy young man who continues to promote Cretan culture to our community.

The young, talented Cretan lyra player, singer and dancing instructor of our community Michael Platyrrahos, is putting together his own production which will be presented to the community.
This is a unique production and a first for Australia's Cretan community. The audience will feel like they are taking a trip as they are presented with traditional Cretan costumes as they were worn through the ages. The recital of historic, folkloric and poetic pieces will also help set the scene. And to top off the production you will listen to the tunes of the Cretan lyra and lute, as well as watch the traditional Cretan dances being performed. Before we give you further information for this unique production, lets become familiar with Michael Platyrrahos.
Michael Platyrrahos was born on the 3rd June, 1977 in Sydney. Always being alongside his father Ulysses Platyrrahos, a man who has deep feelings for the cultural traditions of his homeland Crete, he started to show a greater interest in his ancestor's lifestyle and cultural traditions, especially music and dance.
At the age of 10, he held for the first time a Cretan lyra in his hands, with his first teacher being Sofoklis Sfakianakis. He started off slowly, slowly learning to play beautiful Cretan tunes on his lyra, and as we approach the present day, we find that he is one of the best Cretan lyra players in our community.
Michael's anxieties and love toward his paternal home Crete, disn't stop here, instead they guided him in 1996 to establish the "Musical-Dancing School PLATYRRAHOS".
It is worthy to note that young Michael was involved with theatre in the past, where as systematically with singing. The eagerness of this young man, with aim to preserve the Cretan culture, it's customs and traditions in a civilised country, is said to be a difficult task which will take a lot of hard work, patience and persistence. This is what makes us feel proud of the youth in today's society.
Therefore, on Saturday 25th April, at the TOM MANN THEATRE, 136-140 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills, at 8:00 pm, we will have the opportunity to witness this unique production of the "CRETAN FOLKLORIC COMPANY", which is organised by the young, multi-talented Cretan of our community Michael Platyrrahos.
In this production, apart from the organiser, also taking part is well known to all of us: John Krasadakis (lute), Sifis Tsourdalakis and Andrew Vardakis from Melbourne, the dancing group and choir of the company.
This is a production for all people interested and shouldn't be missed by any Greek person.
As we stressed the point in the "Greek Herlad", the youth of today is the future of our community. Therefore, it is in our hands to encourage these young people for their attempts in preserving our culture in their inheritance.

(Greek Herald) A. Iliopoulos

A CRETAN NIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

On the 11th February 1998, a representative body of the Cretan culture in Sydney was established with the name “CRETAN FOLKLORIC COMPANY.” This body is nothing other than the transformation of the Musical-Dancing School “Platyrrahos.”
The youth who make up this musical-dancing body, together with their dancing instructor MICHAEL PLATYRRAHOS, will be presenting on Saturday 25th April their new costumes. This is one aspect which will be covered on the night, together with music, dancing and familiar Cretan tunes. The venue of this production is TOM MANN THEATRE 136-140 Charlmers St. Surry Hills at 8:00pm.
This production is being organised by 21 year old Michael Platyrrahos, who isn’t just a dancing instructor, but a musician as well. This is an attempt made for the first time in Australia by Cretans.
Taking part in the musical aspect of the night will be Michael Platyrrahos on lyra, John Krasadakis on lute and Sifis Tsourdalakis and Andrew Vardakis from Melbourne, who will be coming to Sydney especially for this event.
“We as dancing instructors, musicians, people who associate themselves with what we call ‘tradition,’ are obliged to maintain certain rules. We are people who should look for something old, offer it to others and continue to practice it as best as we can. It is a must that we continue to establish traditional bodies in countries away from our homeland Greece, in order to continue the traditions practiced by our forefathers...” that is what we often hear Michael say.
This is exactly what this production is trying to promote. It isn’t just a night for music and dancing, but we will also have the opportunity to see the different cultural costumes of Crete, which will be presented to us by the members of the musical-dancing school. Cretan costumes such as the Mesaritissa, Chaniotissa, Sfakiani, Rethemniotissa and Anogiani.
Michael’s father Ulysses Platyrrahos states “ the love that one person shows for their homeland and the attachment they hold within themselves for their cultural traditions shouldn’t be locked up and taken out whenever we feel like it. They are apart of life for those people who have sentimental feelings towards their homeland and it’s history.”
His words express cleary the sentimental feelings of the youth who are taking part in this production and who thank all those people who support them in their attempt of maintaining the customs and traditions of Crete.
It is important therefore to support all the attempts of these young people, who try hard to maintain and keep the Greek traditions alive.
Congratulations to Michael Platyrrahos and to the members of the Musical-Dancing School. The production will start at 8:00pm and tickets cost only $15.

(The Vema)

A unique youthful Cretan presentation

How can you not take off your hat in admiration of the young people in our community who have taken the Greek language and culture to heart and are keen to promote these treasures at every opportunity! In the past few weeks alone Sydney's Hellenic Community has had the chance to admire our talented youth on numerous occasions - theatrical productions, concerts and recitals ~ where it has been proved beyond any doubt that Greek blood runs through the veins of those second, third and fourth generation Greek-Australians.
What is even more noteworthy is the fact that many of these young people (such as Dion Vertzayias, Dioni Vertzayias, Panayiotta Christou, Andrew Georgalla, Michael Platyrrahos and Yannis Krasadakis, to name a few) have been willing to participate in more than just one production, displaying the versatility of their talents in the performing arts.
Today, I wish to focus on our two young Cretans - Michael Platyrrahos and Yannis Krasadakis - who have performed at the 25th March concert at the Opera House on March 29, at the "New Generation... New Horizons" Concert under the direction of Vangelis Papageorgiou at Marrickville Town Hall on April 4 and at the Brighton Street Fair on April 5.
Next Saturday (April 25) Michael and Yannis will be the protagonists when the Cretan Folkloric Company stages a unique presentation of Cretan costume through the ages at the Tom Mann Theatre (136-140 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills) commencing at 8 p.m.
The audience will take a trip back in time with the recital of historic, folkloric and poetic pieces complemented by Cretan music and dance. Credit for the co-ordination of the entire production - a first for Austral ia's Cretan community - goes to Michael Platyrrahos, multi-talented son of Odysseas and Helen, who is giving it his all to produce a cultural masterpiece.
Musical performances on the lyra and lute will be given by Michael Platyrrahos and Yannis Krasadakis from Sydney and Sifis Tsourdalakis and Andreas Vardakis from Melbourne.
The entertainment will be enhanced by the Cretan Folkloric Company's Dancing Group and Choir.
It would be remiss of me not to point out how admirable Yannis Krasadakis is to have clung onto his Hellenic heritage. For while his paternal grandfather arrived in Australia from Crete in 1911, he married an Irish girl with whom he had eight children who were raised with little or no knowledge of Creek language and culture.
One of those eight is Yannis' father who also married an Irish girl. It was after coming into contact with members of Sydney's Cretan community that young Yannis felt the urge to seek his roots, learn the Creek language, dance the Creek dances. He went even further and learned how to play Cretan instruments. In December1996 he was baptised Creek Orthodox and is soon to tie the knot with a young Creek girl!
Admission to next Saturday's unique production is $15. For reservations ring 97073408, 0416066138 or 0414361977.
With such performances from young Greek Australians we can certainly enter the 21st century with optimism about the future of Hellenic culture in the Antipodes!

(O Kosmos)