Set to a poem of the same name by Basque poet Tzaro Etxebarria Clemente, Hatzis's Haikus was the composer's first attempt to set to music poetry in a language that he does not speak. Hatzis had been fascinated with the Basque language for years, so when the opportunity presented itself for him to work with Basque texts, he took it.
Born in Greece, educated in the United States and a Canadian citizen since 1985, composer Christos Hatzis (b.1953) is becoming widely known as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. His works are performed and broadcast throughout the world, and their frequent combination of a powerful spiritual foundation with an immediately accessible appeal has made a deep emotional impact upon audiences and performers alike.
