Frangoulis performed a diverse program in English, Italian, Spanish, French and Greek that ranged from opera to Broadway to traditional Greek songs over a two and a half hour program. He launched the evening with a high-energy rendition of the dramatic Spanish song Granada, shifting to the famous Theodorakis song Omorfi Poli and ending the first part of the program 10 songs later with the theme from the 2004 Olympic Games, Here’s to the Heroes and the title song from his second crossover CD, Follow Your Heart.

Both parts of the program featured musical overtures led by Michael Butterman, acclaimed conductor of the Shreveport Symphony and Boulder Philharmonic orchestras. The musical breaks shone a well-deserved spotlight on the world-class, 27-piece orchestra that had been assembled for this concert. The ensemble included members of the Boston Esplanade Pops Orchestra, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Handel and Haydn Society as well as stellar Boston-area Greek musicians who collaborated with Frangoulis’ longtime pianist and composer, Theodoris Oikonomou.

The entire theater of more than 1,000 people was on its feet cheering and singing along with this charismatic, warm performer who embodies the Greek spirit.

Frangoulis acknowledged the diligent work of The Greek Institute, for whom this was a benefit concert and whose mission is "to create a greater awareness and understanding of the extraordinary achievements of Greek culture from antiquity to the present” and stated that he is very proud to be Greek and that it is only through “the language that the culture of Greece and hence Western civilization can truly be preserved and understood.”

Following the performance, Frangoulis signed autographs for hundreds of fans, proving that he not only has talent, but he is a man with heart.

Source: http://www.thehellenicvoice.com/