The Victoires de la Musique—France’s equivalent to the Grammys—played host to a deeply moving “Greek summit” as renowned presenter Nikos Aliagas presented a lifetime achievement award to the legendary Nana Mouskouri.
At 92 years old, Mouskouri took the stage at the packed La Seine Musicale to a thunderous standing ovation. The ceremony, broadcast live on national television, saw viewership peak at 2 million during her tribute.
The power of words
The emotional high point occurred when Aliagas spoke not only of Mouskouri’s staggering career—with record sales exceeding 300 million—but of her character and the example she has set for generations.
In a stirring gesture of shared heritage, Aliagas translated the iconic words of Nikos Kazantzakis into French, before thanking her in Greek with the famous creed: “I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.”
Mouskouri’s heartfelt dedication
Visibly moved, Nana Mouskouri dedicated the honor to:
France and its people: For their enduring love and the lessons they taught her since the dawn of her international career.
Her Family: Her son, Nicolas Petsilas, who celebrated his birthday in the front row; her husband and lifelong collaborator, producer André Chapelle; and his son, Fabrice Chapelle.
The evening featured poignant video messages from French icons Serge Lama and Line Renaud. The musical celebration continued with Isabelle Boulay’s rendition of Mouskouri’s massive hit “L’amour en héritage,” while Vincent Dedienne and Valérie Lemercier performed a charming duet of “Quand on s’aime.”
