Publication of the “Moonlight Sonata” by Yiannis Ritsos

Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990) is the communist poet of Hellenism; his poetry symbolizes the intersections of human passions, desires, and struggles. He draws his poetry from ancient motifs and narrates the ancient myths using the tragedies of the 20th century and the lonely and troubled psyche of modern man. His poemsmet with the music of Mikis Theodorakis and other critical Greek composers and became songs. In 1956, this poet of social revolution, initiated with “Moonlight Sonata” a series of poetic monologues that spoke of loneliness and despair and man’s devastation under the weight of history and oppression.