Athanasios Vretanos
Interviewer(s):
Alexandra Mourgou
Alexandros Balasis
Project:
Musical Geographies and the Greek Canadian Experience in Toronto: Places, Cultures, & Diasporic Identities
INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Toronto, ON
LANGUAGE:
Greek
DATE:
May 13, 2024

Interview Summary:

Interview Details
Categories and Themes
Content
Media
Date and Location
May 13, 2024
Toronto, ON
Interviewee(s)
Athanasios Vretanos
Interviewer(s)
Alexandra Mourgou
Alexandros Balasis
Languages
Greek
Reference ID
MGTREF001
Project
Musical Geographies and the Greek Canadian Experience in Toronto: Places, Cultures, & Diasporic Identities
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Categories
Culture and Tradition
Historical Events
Migration
Rites
Tags
Asia Minor Catastrophe
Marriage
Music
Ship Jumpers
WW2
Decades Referenced
1940s
1950s
1960s
Locations Referenced
Neapoli Kozani, Thessaloniki, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Bahia Blanca Argentina; Denmark; Antwerp
Occupation(s)
Ship mechanic, bussines owner
Parents Occupation(s)
Names Referenced
Gerasimos Mazarakis, Giorgos Zampetas (musician), Giorgos Batis (musician); Apostolos Kaldaras (musician)

[00:00:25] His grandfather’s story and moving to Thessaloniki

[00:04:17] German occupation and migration to Brazil

[00:06:28] Going to Argentina, Denmark and Antwerp

[00:13:31] Returning to Antwerp and playing the bouzouki

[00:17:41] Meeting Zampetas and his military service

[00:22:20] Returning to work and staying in Toronto

[00:27:47] Getting married and working as bellhop

[00:30:55] Playing the bouzouki on different stages

[00:39:43] Working in Toronto and his parents

[00:47:22] With relation with the Church

[00:50:17] The Dictatorship period and buying his house

[00:55:52] Skonadiko

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