The wax doll

The famous Wax Doll, the novel with which Konstantinos Christomanos breathed new life into the early 20th-century Greek literature, is refashioned into an opera by the celebrated composer Tasos Rosopoulos, commissioned by the Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera and based on a libretto by Yannis Svolos.

BIOGRAPHIES

Tasos Rosopoulos Music

Born in Athens in 1974. Along with his studies at the National Technical University of Athens as a surveyor engineer, he studied classical guitar, music theory, music for theatre and cinema, jazz theory and improvisation. He has worked as an orchestrator, editor and proofreader of music material in many editions, recordings, concerts, theatre and cinema productions. He has composed orchestral music, chamber music, songs and music for theatre, cinema and advertisements. Since 2003 he has collaborated for long periods of time with Third Radio Programme and Musical Ensembles of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. Among others, he has published the following books: Methodos ton trion (The rule of three, Ypsilon editions, in texts-translations of G. Koropoulis), Na ipotheto ti matia (To guess the look) and Laceworks (transcriptions for guitar, Korina Vougiouka). Some of his most recently presented works include the musical fairy tales for narrator and orchestra The prince and the dragon, The water-flower, The brave boy and the dragon of the well (based on G. Koropoulis’ texts) and Dream in red hat (based on a text by K. Schina), the work for orchestra and mezzo-soprano The visit (based on G. Rorris’ painting of the same title), the cycle of songs Lying suns, The pure and the one (W. Miller & H. Heine’s poetry translated by D. Kapsalis) – all the above works were commissioned to him by the Hellenic Project. He also wrote the music for the theatrical monologue I rimada i zoi (Damn life, Athens Festival 2016 – M. Mavromatakis, G. Koropoulis).

Yannis Svolos Libretto

Born in Athens in 1955. He studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (1973/78) and pursued postgraduate studies in landscape design (USA, 1978/79). Between 1986 and 1992 he worked for the Ministry of Culture as a restoration architect under the Committee for the Preservation of the Monuments at the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus, focusing on the Tholos of Polykleitos. From 1995 to 2000 he worked for the Foundation of the Hellenic World (FHW) as a scientific advisor for the Archive for Built Environment of Asia Minor and the 3D Graphics Department which produced digital models of ancient buildings, as well as on monographs on ancient Priene (FHW, 2000; Harvard University Press, 2006) and ancient Ephesus (FHW, 2005). In 2000 he was involved in the production of a five-part documentary about the ancient Olympic Games. Since 2012 he collaborates with an international team of archaeologists and an English 3D artist for the creation of 3D digital representations of major Greek archaeological sites. A fruit of this collaboration was the illustration of a scientific edition on the use of the Tholos of Epidaurus (USA, 2018). He participated as a scientific consultant in the project “Digital application for the display and promotion of the Castle of Mytilene, the town’s Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, and aspects of the daily life of the castle and the surrounding area (funded by the National Strategic Reference Framework [NSRF] 2007/2013, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 14th Directory of Byzantine Antiquities). Since 1993, he has also worked as a music critic publishing texts in various daily newspapers and magazines (Eleftherotypia, Efimerida ton Syntakton, Kathimerini, Polyfonia, etc). He collaborated with the Third Programme of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (1994/2014) as well as with major music institutions (Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Athens Festival, etc). He has taught seminars on opera scenography (2001/19). He has collaborated as an advisor to the publishing of recordings of works by Greek composers by the S.A. for the Promotion of Greek Culture (Cultural Olympiad 2001/04, “Instead of a dream”, 12 cds). He has adapted Papadiamantis’ work The murderess to a libretto for Giorgos Koumendakis’ opera of the same title (GNO, 2014). He worked for the implementation of the NSRF-funded project on the Greek National Opera Archive and the history of opera in Greece (2013/15, Post Scriptum, GNO / Virtual Opera Museum). He also worked on four TV productions about the history of opera in Greece and the eighty-year long trajectory of the Greek National Opera (2016/18, Frog on the road / ελculture, Cosmote / History Channel).

Nicolas Vassiliou Conductor

Pianist, conductor and composer, born in Athens. He studied piano and theory in Athens and New York, as well as conducting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) (Athens Academy scholarship). He taught music in schools; piano and chorus direction at the National Conservatory of Athens. Director of the “Manolis Kalomiris” Children’s Chorus (1992-2000), he has collaborated, among others, with the Greek National Opera, Athens Festival, Athens Concert Hall. Since 1994, as a chorepetitor he has participated in the musical preparation of more than sixty GNO productions. GNO Chorus master (2005/11), head of the GNO Studio Opera (2012/15) and conductor of the Contemporary Opera since 2010, with plenty Greek premieres in his career. Music consultant of the Athens Festival (2017/18). He has conducted, among others, the GNO Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra, City of Athens Orchestra.

Simos Kakalas Director

Graduate of the National Theatre of Northern Greece (NTNG), he spend his first professional years as an actor and member of the theater organization Nees Morfes. The research nature of the work with this team and the physical direction had an impact to his later career. In 2000 he was hired as an actor at the NTNG, starring in many performances, while at the same time he started to work as assistant director. In 2003 he formed the group which later became known as Horos Theatre Company, aiming for a company that would combine research with professional subsistence. His multidimensional work with The Goλfω! Project was the stage result of a 15-year long work in progress. In 2007 he started his work on the Cretan 15-syllable verse, which culminated on stage with the multidimensional Erofili Project. He presented the poem Sissimon by N. Panagiotopoulos at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (2013). In 2018 he completed and presented the production Wuthering Heights with the Horos Theatre Company.

Kenny McLellan Sets

He studied at the Glascow School of Art and set design at the Motley Theater School of Set Design. He has worked with major festivals (Athens, Edinburg, Brussels, Vienna, Warsaw, Cologne, Paris), theaters (Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera De Montpellier, New Israeli Opera, Greek National Theater, National Theater of Northern Greece, GNO, Athens Concert Hall, Patras Municipal Regional Theater (DIPETHE), Theseum Ensemble), and the dance theaters Oktana, SineQuaNon, etc. He has also worked with distinguished directors. He has designed the sets and costumes for stage plays such as: Hercules Furens (dir. M. Marmarinos, Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, 2011), Pavlos Matessis’ The dog’s mother (dir. N. Milivojevic, National Theater, 2011), Melted butter (dir. S. Kakalas, National Theater, 2008), Dimitris Dimitriades’ Dying as a country (dir. M. Marmarinos, Athens Festival, 2007), Howard Brenton’s H.I.D. (dir. Danny Boyle, Royal Shakespeare Company), and more. He teaches set and costume design in various cities around the world.

Claire Bracewell Costumes

Born in London, she graduated from the University of Manchester and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She worked in Great Britain as set and costume designer at the Stephen Joseph Theatre (Time and Time Again, Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance). Since 1989 she has been living and working in Greece. As a costume designer she has worked, among others, at the Notos Theatre (Belvedere, Ivanov, Thérèse Raquin), Porta Theatre (Elisa, A Month in the Country, Beauty and the Beast), Spyros Evangelatos’ Amfi-Theatre (Mary Stuart), Tzeni Karezi Theatre (Ivanov), Athens Theatre (Summer and Smoke), Kefallinias Street Theatre (Hebriana), Embros Theatre (Don Juan Comes Back From The War), National Theatre of Northern Greece (The flight), Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall (The Turn of the Screw). She has worked in numerous productions with the Municipal Theatres of Kalamata, Lamia, Patras, Ioannina, Crete, Rhodes, Volos. In 2000 she won the costume design prize awarded by Athinorama magazine. For the Greek National Opera she has designed the costumes for numerous productions.

Panagiotis Lambis Lighting

Born in Athens in 1985. He graduated from the Chemistry Department of the UOA (2011) and received a master’s degree in Advanced Theatre Practice by the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2012). He has collaborated with directors such as P. Adam, G. Andreou, D. Georgalas, D. Lalos, A. Micheli, R. Moschochoriti, K. Dellas, E. Papakonstantinou, K. Spanou. He is a professional video designer and photographer.

Lydia Angelopoulou Missis Dimitraena

Mezzo-soprano, she was born in Athens. She studied Chemistry at the University of Athens, voice at the National Conservatory and at the Vienna Music Academy, acting at the Drama School of the Conservatory of Athens and directing at the Theater of Changes. Since 1995 she has been a soloist at the Greek National Opera. She has appeared in at least 25 leading roles in operas and operettas (Il Trovatore, Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, Adriana Lecouvreur, The Godson, Die Fledermaus, The Apaches of Athens, A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Periklis Koukkos), Rigoletto, Aida, Zorbas, among others, in Greece (GNO, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Athens Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall) and abroad (Vienna, Valencia, Salzburg, Turin, Sofia). She also appears regularly in concerts. She collaborated with the Athens Chamber Opera and with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. She is Head of Public Relations of the Alternative Stage and of Learning & Participation. She teaches at the Filippos Nakas Conservatory and at the National Conservatory.

Stelina Apostolopoulou Liolia

Born in Volos. In 2008 she received a singing diploma from the Hellenic Conservatory in Piraeus. She was a member of the Greek National Opera’s Opera Studio (2011-2013). She has participated in the productions: Puss in Boots (GNO Children’s Stage), Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (The Athens Concert Hall, in collaboration with La Fura dels Baus), L’amante di tutte (GNO Studio Opera), Il viaggio a Reims (Berlin Arts University). She has sung in various festivals in Greece and abroad. Since 2014, she continues her studies in classical singing at the Berlin Arts University, under Julie Kaufmann. Recipient of the Paul Hindemith Gesellschaft and Deutschland Stipendium scholarships, in 2015 she was awarded the DAAD prize (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). Graduate of the University of Athens (UOA) Department of Theatre Studies, where she co-founded the UOA Research Theatre Group. During 2011 she wrote theatre reviews for the online magazine Camera-Stylo and in 2012 she was a member of the movement 100 Thousand poets for change.

Theodora Baka Verginia

Greek mezzo-soprano, she graduated from the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. She has performed at the Greek National Opera, the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls, the opera houses of Perm (Russia), Lisbon and Ferrara, works from Early Baroque till contemporary opera. She has collaborated with the Athens State Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, Music Ensembles of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, Complesso Barocco and Latinitas Nostra ensembles. Her repertoire includes Early music, Lieder and works by contemporary Greek composers such as George Kouroupos, Nikos Kypourgos, Giorgos Koumendakis, Vangelis Katsoulis, Efi Markoulaki, Takis Rossopoulos, Kornilios Selamsis, Konstantinos Vita, Elias Andriopoulos, etc). She received great acclaim for her participation in the opera Arianna in Creta (cond. George Petrou) and for her recording of laments by composers of the 17th century with Atalante ensemble. She also recorded works by Domenico Scarlatti and Handel under the baton of Alan Curtis, works of the Middle Ages with Ex Silentio ensemble, as well as traditional and contemporary Greek songs.

Yannis Filias Dinos

Greek tenor, he was born in Athens. He studied piano, advanced music theory, dance, classical singing (Greek Conservatory and Protoporia Conservatory, Athens), as well as acting (Karolos Koun Art Theatre). He graduated from the Department of Music Studies (University of Athens) and from the Higher Drama School of New Greek Theatre (George Armenis). As a soloist he has collaborated with music and theatrical ensembles such as Music Ensembles of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, Greek Composer’s Union, National Theatre, Art Theatre, Greek National Opera, Athens Concert Hall, Orchestra of Colours, Athens State Orchestra, Armonia Atenea-The Friends of Music Orchestra, Helliniki Theamaton company, Badminton Theatre with such composers as Alkis Baltas, Theo dore Antoniou, Giorgos Koumendakis, Christos Leontis, Dionyssis Tsaknis, Kharalampos Goyos, Dimitris Maramis, and directors such as Spyros A. Evangelatos, Kostas Gavras, Victor Ardittis, Esther Andre Gonzalez, Renato Zanella, Carmen Rouggeri, Costas Koutsomitis, Olga Malea, Thomas Moschopoulos, Marianna Kalbari, Stamatis Fasoulis, Vassilis Nikolaidis, Dimitris Lignadis, Sophia Spyratou, Paris Mexis and Themelis Glinatsis.

Yannis Kalyvas Nikos

Greek tenor, he studied at the Department of Communication and Media Studies (NKUA), as well as piano and singing (diploma) at Attiko Conservatory, Athens. He holds a diploma from the Music Academy of Würzburg. Moreover, he attended postgraduate studies at the Music and Theatre Academy of Munich. He has received scholarships from the Richard Wagner Verband Würzburg and the Maria Callas Scholarships Society (Friends of Music Society). He has performed Anthony (Sweeney Todd, Athens Festival), Tony (West Side Story, cond. George Petrou), Endimione (L’arbore di Diana by Vicente Martín y Soler, Prinzregententheater, Munich), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence), Camille de Rosillon (Die lustige Witwe), Muchtar (Frosyni by Pavlos Carrer), Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Abdallo (Nabucco), etc. Ιn Germany he sang Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Schoolmaster (The Cunning Little Vixen). Recently he sang Prince (The Princess and the Pea, GNO) and Pluton (Offenbach’s Orphéeaux enfers, Olympia Theatre).

Sofia Kyanidou Missis Evridiki

Greek soprano, she studied at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki under Varvara Tsambali and at the Vienna Academy of Music with Helene Karusso, Kurt Equiluz and Curt Malm. She attended voice seminars under Daphne Evangelatos, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Kostas Paskalis and Inge Borkh. At the GNO she has sung, among others, Antonia (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Micaela (Carmen), Echo (Ariadne auf Naxos), Kyra (Kalomiris’ The mother’s ring), Gertrud (Hansel und Gretel). She has also sung Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Marzelline (Fidelio) in Austria. She has performed with Armonia Atenea, Athens and Thessaloniki State Orchestras, Greek Music Ensemble, Orchestra of Colors, Athens Chamber Orchestra at the Athens Concert Hall, Opera of Thessaloniki, Demetria Festival, Athens Festival, Festival of Patmos, Delphi Festival, Vienna State Opera and Musikverein (Vienna). She sang the title role in Samaras’ opera La Martire (Wuppertal Opera House), Iphigenie (Iphigenie en Tauride) and Leonora (Fidelio) in cooperation with the artists group “Greek Opera” and recently Richard Strauss’ Four last songs (London, I maestri).

Kostis Mavrogenis Beadle, policeman, seller II

Born in Athens. He began his piano studies at the age of 12 (diploma with honors and first award) and he continued his studies in music theory (fugue diploma with honors). He turned to classical song, receiving lessons under Mechthild Stamataki and later with George Zervanos (monody diploma with honors and first award). He has collaborated with all the major theaters, with orchestras and ensembles in Greece and abroad (Calabria Philharmonic Orchestra). His repertoire includes works from the baroque era to the 20th century, as well as works by Greek composers. He has sung roles such as: Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Silvio (Pagliacci), Ping (Turandot), Lord Rochefort (Anna Bolena), De Siriex (Fedora), Dr Falke (Die Fledermaus), Achilla (Giulio Cesare), Troufaldino (Ariadne auf Naxos), Monterone (Rigoletto). He is also a graduate of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Music Studies at the University of Athens.

Dimitris Nalbandis Doctor, priest, young doctor I, seller I, fellow-drinker

Tenor, he began his studies at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki (class of F. Nikolaidou), and completed them in Athens with F. Voutsinos (diploma cum laude). He attended Lied and oratorio courses by soprano Missa Ikeoutsi and by Antonis Kontogeorgiou, acting courses by Dimitris Katalifos and dance courses by Lila Zafiropoulou. He has worked with the Greek National Opera, Opera of Thessaloniki, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Ancient Corinth Festival, Demetria Festival in Thessaloniki, Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls. He has collaborated with major conductors and numerous orchestras (Athens State Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, National Symphony Orchestra of the Greek Broadcasting Corporation, Sofia Amadeus Orchestra, Οrchestra of the Romanian Opera House in Timisoara, Orchestra of the Belgrade Opera). He has sung roles in various operas, Greek and French operettas, as well as in works by contemporary Greek composers. Founding member of the contemporary dance company “Eldor”.

Arkadios Rakopoulos Konstantinos Christomanos

Greek baritone, he was born in Athens. He studied voice at the Athenaeum Conservatory with Marina Krilovici (diploma with honours and first prize) and also holds a diploma in counterpoint and fugue with Andreas Carbone. He has also studied under Angelo Simos, Renato Bruson (Chigiana Musical Academy, Siena), José van Dam and Kostas Paskalis. He attended seminars by Helmut Rilling with the Orchestra of the Stuttgart International Bach Academy and Aris Christofellis. His repertoire includes important choral works such as Carmina Burana and Stabat Matter, Lieder as well as operatic roles such as Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Escamillo (Carmen), Silvio (Pagliacci), Smirnov (The Bear), Germont (La traviata), Don Giovanni, Pasha Seid (Il corsaro), Oreste (Iphigénie en Tauride), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Emmanuel Stavrou (Yasοu Aidα!) as well as Xenakis’ Oresteïa. He has performed lead roles at the Greek National Opera and other theatres in Greece and abroad, such as Neuköllner Oper (Berlin).

Julia Souglakou Auntie Elengo

Greek soprano, she studied voice, advanced music theory and piano at the National Conservatory, Athens, and continued her opera studies in London under Vera Rózsa (Maria Callas scholarship). She made her debut at the GNO in 1994. Since then she has sung numerous leading roles such as Nedda (Pagliacci), Elvira (Ernani), Maria (Simon Boccanegra), Leonora (Il trovatore), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Freia (Das Rheingold), Ortrud (Lohengrin), etc. In addition, she has performed leading roles in Greek composer’s operas such as Kalomiris’ The Shadowy Waters and Sunrise, Samaras’ Rhea and La Martire, Theodorakis’ Karyotakis, Lysistrata and Antigone, Mikroutsikos’ The return of Helen, Tsalahouris’ Pushkin, Koumendakis’ The murderess, etc. Souglakou has repeatedly worked with the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls in operas, oratorios and symphonies and has performed with the most prestigious ensembles of Greece. She has given numerous recitals, she has cooperated with international festivals and has participated in chamber music concerts, films, dance theatre performances, radio and television programs.

Margarita Syngeniotou Missis Aristidaena

Greek mezzo-soprano, she was born in Athens. She studied piano, advanced music theory (diploma of fugue) and voice under Katy Papalexopoulou. She has performed as a soloist with the Greek National Opera in numerous productions of a wide range of repertoire, from Baroque to the 20th Century. She has been a permanent member of the Experimental Stage of the Greek National Opera since it was created. She was also a permanent member of the Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music, performing Greek and foreign composers’ works, many of which were presented for the first time or were written especially for her. She has collaborated with the Athens Concert Hall, Αrmonia Atenea-The Friends of Music Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, Symphony Orchestra of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, Ergon Ensemble, Cyprus State Orchestra, as well as with Delphi and Aix-en-Provence Festivals. She has performed in many cities in Greece and abroad (USA, Germany, France, Italy, England, Cyprus, etc.) in such concert halls as Carnegie Hall, Munich Academy of Arts, etc. She has recorded for Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. She teaches singing at the Musical Horizons Conservatory in Athens.

Dionisos Tsantinis Mimis, young doctor II

Greek bass-baritone, he took his diploma in singing from Athenaeum Conservatory under Dionyssis Troussas. He studied opera and acting at the Berlin University of Arts with Gabriele Schnaut and and Robert Gambill (Alexander S. Onassis scholarship, State Scholarships Foundation of Greece). He continued postgraduate studies at the National Academy of St Cecilia (Rome) with Renata Scotto. He appears in major European scenes such as Berlin State Opera, Rome Opera, Flanders Opera (Antwerp and Ghent), Arnold Schonberg Center (Vienna), at the festivals of Rieti (Italy) and Rheinsberg (Germany), in England, Ireland, Bulgaria, etc. performing a particularly wide repertoire from Baroque to 21st century. He has cooperated as a soloist with the most prestigious Greek orchestras such as Armonia Atenea, National Symphony Orchestra of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, etc) at the Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Onassis Cultural Centre, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, etc. Since 2000 he has been performing at the Greek Νational Οpera. He is the winner of two international singing competitions in Italy and Germany and speaks five languages. He studied at the Department of Theology (NKUA).

Nicolas Vassiliou Dance instructor

(see above)

Lydia Zervanou Bibika

Born in Athens. From a young age she studied piano, cello and later singing. As a cellist she collaborated with numerous professional ensembles in Greece and abroad. She started singing lessons with her father, tenor George Zervanos, and continues to the day with her mother, soprano Martha Arapi. She graduated with honors from the Crane School of Music (New York), where she studied singing and cello. She also studied cello at the Σπούδασε βιολοντσέλο with Marina Kislitsina (Classical and Contemporary Music Conservatory and The Musical Horizons Conservatory), with a scholarship by the State Scholarships Foundation and the Onassis Foundation. As a soloist she sang with the Crane Opera Ensemble and the UOA Department of Music Studies. She has given recitals in Athens and the USA. She performed the leading role at the first presentation of the opera Yasou Aida! (Verdi/Gogios, 2012) at the Neukölln Opera (Berlin), the Thessaloniki Concert Hall and the Athens Festival. Her collaboration with the Neukölln Opera continued with the productions Platée. Ein Begehren (2012/13) and It’s just opera, honey! (2014). She performed with the Beggars’ Operas and with the GNO.

ERGON ENSEMBLE

Ergon Ensemble performs works of contemporary music and has created a sensation with its performances at the Onassis Cultural Center, Athens Festival, Athens Concert Hall, GNO, and at other venues, receiving praise for its exciting and meticulous interpretations. The ensemble aims to promote contemporary masterpieces of the current and recent international repertoire. At the same time, it promotes Greek works to the international music stage. Ergon Ensemble was founded in 2008; its members are exceptionally talented musicians who have participated in the past at the International Academy of Ensemble Modern. A flexible ensemble, with its core formation further reinforced, depending on the project, by a great number of guest artists, specializing in avant-garde music. Other than concerts, the ensemble has made recordings, educational projects and productions that combine other forms of art, such as dance, Music Theater and multimedia. It has performed in various festivals and productions in Greece and Europe.