Μake us preferred on Google For more than six decades, Nana Mouskouri’s voice traveled far beyond Greece, carrying songs across linguistic and cultural borders in Europe and making the Greek-born singer one of the country’s most internationally recognized performers.
On Monday, that career received one of Germany’s highest official honors, when the country’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presented Mouskouri with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at a ceremony in Berlin.
Mouskouri was among 21 people honored by Steinmeier on the occasion of German Unity Day. The awards recognized contributions to democratic values, international understanding and social cohesion.
For Mouskouri, the distinction carries particular resonance given her longstanding relationship with Germany, where her international career took off in the early 1960s. Her recording of “Weiße Rosen aus Athen” — “White Roses From Athens” — became a major success in the country and helped establish her as a household name among German-speaking audiences.
Steinmeier’s decision to honor Mouskouri also reflects a broader recognition of her role beyond music. German coverage of the ceremony highlighted her commitment to peace and freedom, as well as the contribution she has made through a career built on international audiences and cultural exchange.
Mouskouri has recorded and performed in numerous languages, including Greek, German, French, English, Spanish and Italian, building an unusually broad international career. She also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and represented Greece as a member of the European Parliament.
