Love life and not fear death. Alexis Zorbas lives by this maxim, and despite all the catastrophes, misfortunes and disappointments he never gives up his optimism. With dance and also with courage, he faces the challenges of life, which is not the easiest for the newcomer to the island of Crete. In permanent poverty on the fringes of society, he is looking for great happiness and fulfillment, but in doing so he repeatedly encounters rejection, hatred and exploitation. Despite everything, he never gives up.
The Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis became world famous in 1964 with his music for the film Zorba, the Greek . Above all, the Sirtaki composed by him became the epitome of Greek folklore. For the festival in the Arena di Verona, Theodorakis reworked the film music into a ballet with choirs and a soloist. In it, the friendship of two men with their very different experiences and views of life is brought to the stage in the form of dance.