Vangelis

The name Vangelis will forever be associated with the uplifting Oscar-winning piano-and-synths theme to Chariots of Fire that triumphed on cinema screens around the world. His music is not only hugely popular—his Chariots of Fire anthem hit No. 1 in the US charts—it is also ripe for reinvention. Consider his breathtaking soundtrack for Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi noir Blade Runner, whose darkly dreamy futuristic soundscape—featuring electronic synthesizers, steamy jazz sax themes and ethnic-sounding gamelan and glockenspiel—helped to establish his reputation as one of movie music’s original visionaries. When, after a more than a 10-year wait, the original soundtrack album was finally released, it became a dance music phenomenon, sampled by electronic artists from Future Sound of London to drum ’n’ bass producer Dillinja. Since then, Vangelis’ heroic themes for Scott’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise have become a staple of sports coverage on television. Vangelis expanded his sporting-themed portfolio with music for the 2000 Olympic Games, the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 Olympics. Born Evángelos Papathanassíou in the coastal town of Agria, the self-taught keyboardist had once sought fame in the world of Greek pop music, collaborating in the 1960s with singer Demis Roussos in the rock band Aphrodite’s Child. But it was Vangelis’ ear for the triumphant that would prove vital to his ever-expanding legacy.