Dimitrios Levidis
Despite this lack of a musical background in his family, Levidis showed a passion for music from a young age, which led him to enroll in the Athens Conservatory. After completing his studies there, he left for advanced musical training in Lausanne. He then continued his studies in Munich, enrolling in the Royal Academy, where he was taught by Klose and Mottl. In Munich, Levidis became a fully developed musician. From there, he moved to Paris. Yet even in Paris, he did not cease his musical studies—he continued to read about the history of music and followed the contemporary musical scene.
Feeling ready at last, he composed his first musical work, an opera titled The Sunken Bell. This was followed by the symphonic poem The Shepherd and the Fairy. With just these two works, Levidis began to gain recognition. He joined the "Society of Authors and Composers," an organization that only admitted composers of acknowledged merit. To understand the prestige of this Society at the time, it’s worth noting that only 18 French artists were members, among them the great Ravel—whom Levidis would later admire and recognize as a major figure in music.
Critics of his time wrote that Levidis’ works revealed a new musical vision. He went on to compose more pieces, such as De Profundis, The Amulet of the Gods, the lyrical work Four Images in One Act, The Secret Symphony, and others.
Because Levidis had enlisted in the French army during World War I, he was granted French citizenship. Thus, he remained in his beloved Paris from 1910 until 1932, when he returned to Greece and taught at many conservatories. Interestingly, during his years in Paris, Levidis would sign his works using his surname in reverse—SIDIVEL, from LEVIDIS!
Unfortunately, not all of his works have survived. A portion of them is held in the archives of the National Library of Greece.
Dimitrios Levidis died in 1951.
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