The public dispute between Greek singer Anna Vissi and composer Nikos Karvelas has taken a new turn, with reports of a potential legal battle emerging alongside fresh statements from the songwriter about their long-running professional relationship.
Reports had said Karvelas filed for interim measures against Vissi, seeking to prevent her from performing songs he had written. However, judicial sources cited in the latest information do not confirm that such an application has been filed at the Athens Court of First Instance.
According to those sources, no application for interim measures had been submitted in the case at the time of the report, meaning no legal proceedings had yet been initiated on that basis. They did not rule out legal action in the coming days by either party to protect their rights.
The development follows an increasingly public dispute between the two artists over financial arrangements surrounding Vissi’s sold-out concert at Athens’ Olympic Stadium.
Karvelas: I knew about the concert but was not proud of it
Karvelas has issued a lengthy statement responding to Vissi’s claims about the concert and their financial disagreement.
The composer said he was aware that the concert was going ahead because it had already been scheduled, but said he was not proud of the final result. He also said he had not been given a creative or advisory role in the production.
Karvelas said his professional collaborations with Vissi had historically involved a standing financial arrangement under which he received a fee in addition to the royalties he collects through the relevant collective rights-management organization.
He also addressed arrangements for seats at the OAKA stadium that had initially been designated for him, his family and his guests. According to his account, those arrangements were subsequently changed and he was even warned that he might not be allowed into the venue.
Dispute over the €1.5 million claim
Karvelas also rejected Vissi’s claim that he demanded €1.5 million for his involvement in the concert.
According to his version of events, the amount he requested corresponded to the fee he had previously received for concerts at the Panathenaic Stadium, or Kallimarmaro, without including the royalties to which he is entitled as the composer.
He said he was instead offered half that amount on the condition that he would not make negative statements about Vissi.
Karvelas said he rejected that condition because he believes his freedom of expression cannot be made the subject of a financial agreement.
He said Vissi was free to pursue her own artistic path and that he was free to pursue his, suggesting that their professional relationship had effectively come to an end.
Karvelas also rejected claims that he had threatened to expose Vissi or damage her career.
Dispute over alleged €500,000 payment
Another point in Karvelas’ statement concerns businessman Giannis Koustas and Vissi’s claim that he had provided the composer with a €500,000 financial “favor.”
Karvelas categorically denied receiving money from Koustas.
He described the allegation as particularly serious and said the account presented in Vissi’s statement created an inaccurate impression of what had happened.
The dispute comes after decades of personal and professional ties between Vissi and Karvelas. Karvelas has written more than 400 songs for Vissi, many of which have become major hits in her career.
He has previously said that 47 of the 50 songs performed at her concert were his compositions.
For now, the disagreement remains primarily a public exchange of statements. Despite reports of an application for interim measures, judicial sources say no such application had been filed with the Athens Court of First Instance at the time of their latest update.
