Mortissa – Divas of the Rebetiko – this is the title of the Kraków concert by Veronika Varga, a Hungarian artist known as a member of bands like BudaPesme , Babra and VreMea Válkània. Mortissa, the heroine of the Greek rebetiko song, is a strong woman who maintains her independence in the male-dominated port world of the 20th century. The origins of rebetiko can be traced back to the late 19th century and are similar to the origins of tango or fado – it is the music of the city, the street, the port, created in poor working-class neighbourhoods, including immigrants and refugees. The natural cultural melting pot of the Mediterranean basin has imbued it with Byzantine and Ottoman motifs and influenced its lyrical form. These are often stories of poverty, longing and love – melancholic but also uplifting. Rebetiko music was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Heritage List in 2017.
Source: Karnet magazine (2/2025)
