Irena Athanassiou

Greek mezzo-soprano, she was born in Athens. She studied singing (diploma) and graduated from the Sociology Department of Panteion University. She also studied piano and advanced music theory at the Apollonio Conservatory, Athens, and attended seminars on drama and cinema direction at the Theatre of Changes and Kostas Kazakos’ Theatre School. She has been cooperating with the Greek National Opera since 2009 in children's productions (The tsar Saltan, the beautiful Tsarevna and the enchanted swan, Die Fledermaus, Puss in Boots). Since 2011 she has been a permanent member of the Greek National Opera Chorus. As a soloist she has performed Flora Bervoix (La traviata), Yelena Popova (The Bear), Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Rita (I want to see the Pope!), Dina (Nikos Hadjiapostolou’s The first love), Giovanna (Ernani), etc. She has also represented GNO in artistic events and concerts. She cooperates with the opera ensemble “The Medium Project” and has sung in concerts in collaboration with the Athens Municipality Symphony Orchestra, Onassis Cultural Centre, Gialino UpStage, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, etc.