“After everyone played and the audience got up to leave, Alkis Steas quickly takes the microphone and says: ‘If you want, wait two minutes, to see how the Hellenism of New York maintains the folk tradition.’ The audience was temporarily held back, but remained standing, believing they would not hear anything significant. So I started to play, first the ‘Skaro’ and then a lament, and the audience, who were ready to leave, as soon as they heard the tunes and the clarinet, applauded, whistled, threw hats in the air, even their coats, and shouted: ‘More!’, ‘More!’ It was wonderful for me to see this amazing atmosphere, with thousands of spectators excited by my playing, but also by the authentic performances of the songs, since I had not adulterated them at all with modernisms, as had been done here...”