Nikos Gatsos
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Nikos Gatsos (Greek: Νίκος Γκάτσος; 8 December 1911–12 May 1992) was a Greek writer and poet.
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[edit] Biography
He was born in Kato Asea (Chania Frankovrisis) in Arcadia, where he finished primary school (dimotiko). He attended high school (gymnasio) in Tripoli, where he became acquainted with literature and foreign languages. Afterwards, he moved to Athens, where he studied at the department of philosophy of the University of Athens. His knowledge of English and French was quite good and he was already familiar with Kostis Palamas, Dionysios Solomos, Greek folk songs, and recent trends in European poetry. In Athens, he came in contact with the literary circles of the day becoming one of the lifelong friends of fellow poet Odysseus Elytis and published his poems, small in extent and in a classic style, in the magazines Nea Estia (1931) and Rythmos (1933). During that period he also published criticism in Makedonikes Imeres (Μακεδονικές Ημέρες), Rythmos (Ρυθμός), and Nea Grammata (Νέα Γράμματα) (for Kostis Bastias, Myrtidiotissa, and Thrasos Kastanakis, respectively).
In 1943, Aetos published his poetry collection Amorgos, which was a major contribution to contemporary Greek poetry. This was the only book he ever published; it is considered one of the most outstanding poetic examples of Greek surrealism. He subsequently published three more poems: "Elegeio" (1946) in Filologika Chronika, "The Knight and Death" (Ο Ιππότης και ο Θάνατος) (1947), and "Song of Old Times" (Τραγούδι του παλιού καιρού) (1936), dedicated to Seferis, in Tachydromos magazine. He also wrote studies and essays on poetry.
After World War II, he worked with the Greek-British Review as a translator and with the Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi as a radio director. During that period he also began writing lyrics for the music of Manos Hatzidakis, opening a brilliant career in modern Greek songwriting. He died in Athens on 12 May 1992.
[edit] Translation
Nikos Gatsos devoted considerable time to translating plays, mainly for the Greek National Theatre, the Greek Theatre of Art, and the Greek Popular Theatre. In 1944, he translated (for Filologika Chronika) the poem "Night song" by Federico García Lorca. He also translated the following plays:
- August Strindberg
- The Father
All of the plays he translated were staged at the Greek National Theatre and the Greek Theatre of Art. He also associated with the magazines Nea Estia, Tram, Makedonikes Imeres, Mikro Tetradio, Nea Grammata, Filologika Chronika, and Kallitechnika Nea. In addition, he directed plays during his association with Greek radio.
[edit] Lyrics
Nikos Gatsos played a great role in Greek song. He wrote lyrics for major Greek composers, including Manos Hatzidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Xarchakos, and Lukianos Kelaidonis. He had a special relationship with Manos Hatzidakis.
