Nana bows out in style

11:08am Wednesday 15th August 2007

GOWNED and bespectacled, Nana Mouskouri is instantly recognisable, and has been for almost half a century - in fact, she made her first record 50 years ago and has been touring pretty much constantly since 1960.

However, as she approaches her mid-70s, she has decided to retire from touring; but not before she has said "Goodbye and Thank You" to her fans in the form of a Farewell World Tour, which takes place in Manchester in October.

Born in Crete in 1934, Nana moved with her family to Athens where she studied at the prestigious Athens Conservatoire. Her distinctive voice is the result in a flaw in her vocal cords - instead of them being of equal size, one is thicker than the other.

After leaving the Conservatoire, Nana began to sing in jazz clubs and she won the Greek Song Festival two years running. From then on there was no looking back.

In 1961 Nana recorded her most famous song, The White Rose of Athens, and her mastery of languages (she speaks six or seven) ensured that her popularity grew to be global (she even represented Luxembourg in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest).

She is the most successful female singer in history, having recorded 450 albums and her 350 million plus album sales surpasses The Beatles and Elvis combined, with more than 300 Gold, Platinum and Diamond discs.

Added to that she took over from Audrey Hepburn as a Unicef Ambassador and has also served Greece as a Member of the European Parliament.

Apart from the languages she can speak, she has recorded in Japanese, Korean, Hebrew and Welsh.

Speaking from her Paris home she said: "It's nice to be able to speak to the audience in their own language and to perform their own folk songs."

Why has she decided to quit now? She said: "I'm not actually retiring from singing, just touring. If people still want me to sing I will, but I just won't be touring.

"I'll miss it. I've been lucky enough to travel, and I'll still be travelling. I have homes in Paris, Geneva and Athens, plus I'll be doing my humanitarian work.

"My life has been wonderful. I've seen the world, I've worked with so many great artists like Quincy Jones and Harry Belafonte. But most of all I've been so lucky to have been loved by so many people. The audiences who come to my shows have always shown me so much love."

What about the highlights? Nana said:"In 1968 the first time I sang in the Royal Albert Hall - it was a full house. I am also proud that I am able to help with Unicef and of course being a mother to two wonderful children."

Of her current tour, which coincides with the publication of her biography, she said: "It started in 2005 and will end next year in 2008. You have to take time to do the whole world and I want to take the opportunity to say to my fans Thank you for listening to me for so many years'. After 47 years it won't be easy."

"I never thought I'd be a stage person, but I still love singing. You can never leave music if you love it, but now I'll have more time to listen and help."

• Nana Mouskouri's Farewell Tour comes to Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday October 31. Tickets are £28.50 to £32.50 on 0161 9079000 or 0161 8321111.

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