Hellenistic Influence in the World of Opera

The Macedonian Society of Great Britain is proud to present a live performance of some of the timeless classical opera masterpieces, inspired by the profound influences of the Hellenistic period, history and culture.

Distinguished Performers:

• Dimitris Sigalos, Tenor

• Chrisanthi Valoudaki, Soprano

• Manolis Papasifakis, Piano

A wine reception will be held during the intermission.

For those unable to attend in person, the performance will be broadcasted live by Livemedia. Further details about the event can by found here.

We extend our gratitude to THE A.G. LEVENTIS FOUNDATION for their generous sponsorship of this event.

Dimitris Sigalos - Soloist, Tenor

Dimitris Sigalos was born in Athens, Greece . He studied piano, acting and singing at the Greek Conservatory from which he graduated in 1995 (V. Giannoulakos’ class, soloist diploma A with excellence). Since 1998 he performs regularly:

• Donizetti – Ritta
• Rossini – L’ assedio di Corinto
• Bellini – Norma
• Verdi- Nabucco/Macbeth/Stiffelio/Lombardi/Ballo in Maschera/Aida
• Puccini – Butterfly/ Gianni Schicchi/Tosca
• Giordano – Fedora/Adrea Chenie
• Leoncavallo – Pagliacci
• Mascagni – Cavalleria rusticana
• Bizet – Carmen
• Strauss – Ariadne auf Naxos
• Kurt Weil – Rise and Fall of the city of Mahagoni/ Die sieben todsünden
• Ligeti – Le Grand Macabre
• Janacek – The Makropulos Afair
• Kurt Weil – Rise and Fall of the city of Mahagoni/ Die sieben todsünden
• Kalomiris – Anatoli/Konstantinos Paleologos
• Samaras – Kritikopoula
• Karrer – Fior di Maria
• Offenbach – La vie parisienne/ Le Docterur Miracle
• Strauss – Die Fledermaus

He has also participated in numerous operetta and contemporary opera productions (M. Kallomiris, Anatoli, Salonica Music Hall, and Konstantinos Paleologos, Athens Summer Festival, Theater oh Herodus Atticus).

He has appeared in the word premiere of works by M. Theodorakis (Antigone and Lyssistrata, Athens Music Hall), and by D. Lavrangas (Pendathlon, a symphonic poem inspired by the Olympic Games, Salonica Music Hall). He has also collaborated with the Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio, performing the tenor part in Carmina Burana by C. Orff (Salonica Music Hall).

His repertoire in chamber music includes baroque and classical period (German Lied, French Melodie).

Chrisanthi Veloudaki – Soloist, Soprano

Chrisanthi Veloudaki was born and raised in the United States, where she began her music and dance studies at the age of 7, at the New York Music Center (New York). She continued her musical studies in music and dance at the Juilliard School of Music for young artists (age 12 – 17).

She then went on to study Opera and Theatre at the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, New York) were she received a double bachelor degree in Theatre and Opera. She received her Masters Degree in Music in Opera Performance at the Julliard School of Music (New York). Finishing her studies she joined the English National Opera in London England for three Years in the Opera Studio Program.

In Greece Chrisanthi Veloudaki began performing roles at the Athens Lyric Opera, the Athens Megaron, also free-lance recitals in different parts of Greece. She had performed musical roles at the National Theatre of Greece.

In 2006 she received a Diploma on Addictions Counseling from KEAS (Athens, Greece) researching program based in London, England (Centre on Action and Addiction). From 2008 she began working as a music-therapist at the drug rehabilitations centre 18-Ano in Athens, Greece. Since 2010 she is a volunteer at the Shelter for children at Perissos, Athens, working as a music-therapist, and drama-therapist.

• National Opera Of Greece (Roles Performed)
• L’Assedio di Corinto – Rossini (Pamira)
• La Boheme – Puccini (Mussetta)
• L’Occasione fa il Ladro – Rossini (Benerice)
• Zauberflote – Mozart (Papagena)
• The Red Mask – D. Maragopoulos (Model)
• The Possessed – H. Vrondos (Dasha)
• L’elisir d’amore – Donizzetti (Giannetta)
• Cosi fan Tutte – Mozart (Fiordiligi)
• Hansel und Gretel – Humperdink (Taunemann)
• La Cenerentola – Rossini (Clorinda)
• National Opera Of Greece (Operetta)
• The Levante Flower (Penelope)
• Η κόρη του δρόμου (Lily)
• Athens Megaron
• The Tango – D. Maragopoulos (Woman in red)
• Cosi fan Tutte – Mozart (Fiordiligi)
• National Theatre of Greece
• Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)
• Around the world in 80 days (Auda)
• Netherlands Opera
• Turandot – Puccini (Liu)
• La Boheme – Puccini (Musetta)
• La Traviata – Verdi (Violetta)
• English National Opera (Operetta)
• Das Land des Lechelns – Lehar (Mi)
• Fliedermause – Strauss (Adele)
• English Opera Theatre (Musical Theatre)
• The Rise and Fall of the city of Mahagony – Kurt Weil (Jenny)
• Kiss Me Kate – Cole Porter (Kate)
• Seven Deadly Sins – Kurt Weil (Jenny)
• Opera Competitions
• 1st Prize winner European Union Opera Competion – Graz, Austria
• 3rd Preize winner Maria Callas International Competion – Sienna, Italy
• Finalist Di Stéfano Competition – Trapani, Italy
• Railway Carriage Theater: To Treno stoo Rouf
• “Tetelestai” – Director, script writer & performer. 4th Festival of Young Artists “The Twelve Coupe”. May 30 – June 8, 2014.

Manolis Papasifakis – Pianist

Manolis Papasifakis was born in Athens, Greece, but his musical schooling began in the United States, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his family had relocated and remained through his early school years. Here, while still at pre-school age he was enrolled at the Drexel Hill Conservatory of Music and began piano lessons with the school’s director, Elijah Yardumian, brother of noted composer Richard Yardumian and a highly respected musical pedagogue in his own right. Mr. Papasifakis remained at this school under Mr. Yardumian’s tutelage for four years, after which his family returned to Athens. There followed a period of private musical study in Athens, and then formal study at the Athens Conservatory (piano with Aliki Vatikioti).

Mr. Papasifakis returned to the United States as a student at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, from which he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance (piano study with Wilbur Price). A ten-year residence in New York City followed completion of his college studies, during which he pursued a wide range of musical activity, reflective of his own varied interests. A member of the piano faculty at the Brooklyn School of Music from 1981 to 1990, he also worked during the same period as assistant conductor for the Henry Street Settlement Opera Studio and the LUBO Opera of New Jersey, as well as accompanist to many of New York’s leading voice studios. In 1989 he was a finalist in the New York International Chopin Competition.

Now based in Greece, Mr. Papasifakis has continued a varied career both within and outside of his native country. As teacher, accompanist and coach, he has regularly been associated with most of Greece’s leading musical institutions and concert venues, including the Athens Megaron, the Athens Conservatory, the Athenaeum International Cultural Center, the Greek National Opera, and others. He has performed widely throughout the country both as a solo pianist and as recital partner to singers and instrumentalists. As one of Greece’s most sought-after vocal coaches and accompanists he works both with singers in the midst of international careers, as well as with young professionals and students. He has participated as faculty in international vocal seminars such as the Pacific Rim Seminars in Vancouver, Canada, and the Antonia Lavanne Institute in Ernen, Switzerland, and has long been an official accompanist for the Maria Callas Grand Prix Competition in Opera, Lied, and Oratorio. In collaboration with the New York-based Nietzsche Music Project, Mr. Papasifakis has recorded a well-received two-disc CD set of Nietzsche’s music, including songs, solo piano pieces, and four-hand piano works.

Recent work of note has included a series of recitals at the Athenaeum International Cultural Center in Athens, including art song programs, a solo piano program (April 2013) titled “The Romantic Salon” with works of early Romantic composers, and most recently (Jan. 2014) a program of music by Russian composers for viola and piano, with violist Ilias Sdoukos (1st viola in the orchestra of the Greek National Opera and an accomplished viola soloist as well.) In March 2013 he participated in a master class sponsored by the Scholarship Fund for young singers of the “Friends of Music” Foundation, at the Athens Megaron, as accompanist to students but also assistant to noted soprano Jeanette Pilou, a longtime friend and associate – he has collaborated with the same organization and with esteemed mezzo-soprano and Munich Hochschuele Professor Daphne Evangelatou, for another such masterclass in March 2014.

Mr Papasifakis has been a long-standing faculty member, having been with Musical Odyssey since its inaugural year of 2014.