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Christos Papageorgiou is a composer, concert pianist and also producer of Classical Music Programs for TV ET 1&2 and Radio 3 National Channels. His other activities include conducting, lecturing and teaching.
He has performed in venues such as Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kensington Palace and collaborated with ensembles such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique du Capitole de Toulouse, Czech Radio Symphony, München Sinfoniker, Orquestra Sinfonica “Ciudad de Malaga”, N.H.K. Danyu Orchestra(Japan), Odessa Philharmonic ,Orchestra Sinfonica-del Emilia Romagna-“Arturo Toscanini”, Buffalo Philharmonic Oxford Philomusica. N.Y. Phil Soloists.
He has received awards including the First Prize at the “5th International Competition for Composition “2 Agosto” (Italy) , also top prizes in five International Piano Duo Competitions in U.S.A, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic and Switzerland, the “Young Artist of the Year” award for 1998 by the “National Society of Critics for music and drama” and as Radio 3 Director the Cultural Award of the “Foundation for the Building of the “Maria Callas” Lyric Academy”.
He has been Director of the National Classical Radio 3 and Counsellor to the Hellenic National Broadcasting Corporation for the Music Ensembles and Classical Radio 3, Professor of Music at the National School of Dance, Associate Lecturer at the Ionian University and Artistic Director of the National Conservatory Department in Kifissia.
Christos Papageorgiou has led a career in three musical fields: Composer performer and producer. He has collaborated with distinguished musicians and ensembles such as the : Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique du Capitole de Toulouse ,Czech Radio Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Muenchen Sinfoniker, Orquestra Sinfonica “Ciudad de Malaga”, N.H.K. Danyu Orchestra(Japan), Odessa Philharmonic ,Orchestra Sinfonica-del Emilia Romagna-“ArturoToscanini”, Oxford Philomusica, New England Symponic Ensemble, Athens State Orchestra, Hellenic Radio Sympony and Modern Radio Sympony, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Hellenic National Radio Symphony , Camerata of the friends of Music ,Orchestre Symphonique de Neuchatel, Odessa Chamber Orchestra, Opava Chamber Orchestra, Patras Chamber Orchestra, Volos Symphony Orchestra the N.Y.Phil. Chamber Soloists, contralto Maria Farandouri guitarist Oscar Ghiglia, Saxophonist Theodor Kerkezos and conductors Michel Plasson, Phillipe Entremont, Pedro Calderon , Hobart Earle, in important venues such as the: Berlin Philharmonie, Barbican Hall, Carnegie (Weil) Hall, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elisabeth Hall, Kensington Palace, St.James Palace, , Casals Hall –Kioi Hall - Kodaira Hall(Tokyo), Rudolfinum Dvorakhall, Basler Konzerthaus, BernKulturkasino, Athens Megaron, Thessaloniki Megaron e.t.c.
He has appeared in venues such as Berlin Philharmonie,Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Symphony Space Auditorium(NY)), Barbican Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Kensington Palace, St. James Palace,Codaira Hall, Casals Hall and Κioi Hall (Τokyo), Rudolfinum Dvorak Hall (Prague), Bern Kulturkazino , Hans Huber Saal Basel ,Athens and Thessaloniki Megaron of Music and in many festivals around the world. He has also special guest artist at Unicef’s 50th Anniversary concert at Chicago with Nana Mouschouri and Harry Belafonte.
He has recorded for B.B.C, RAI, ARD, Suisse Radio, Berlin Radio 3 a.o.
His other activities include productions of numerous radios and tv programs, giving solo piano recitals and concerts, lecturing and teaching, also conducting, all with equal critical and public acclaim. He is widely known in his country, as producer of Classical Music Programs for TV and Radio.
Between June 2014-15 he has been the Director of the National Classical Radio 3 (Trito Programma).
Since September 2015 Christos Papageorgiou is the Artistic Director of the National Conservarory Kifissia.
From 2016 to the present is appointed “Program’s Special Cultural Advisor” in ERT where he also broadcasts weekly on National TV and Radio.
In 2015 on a televised anniversary concert performed and conducted from the piano Prokofieff’s 3rd Piano Concerto 85 years after Dimitris Mitropoulos in Berlin thus becoming the fourth after Prokofieff and Van Cliburn to do so.
In the summer of 2023, on the "World Music Day" on 21 June, the Varna State Opera premiered the musical "Callas and Onassis" at the Summer Festival to an enthusiastic reception. The 2nd official premiere took place opening the annual Sofia Winter Festival in the presence of two Presidents of the Republic and a packed theatre with rave reviews from the audience and experts.
DISTINCTIONS
Some of his various distinctions include: First Prize at the “5th International Competition for Composition “2 Agosto” (Bologna,Italy) for his "Electric Guitar Concerto".
First prizes / distinctions in five International Piano Duo Competitions in U.S.A, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic and Switzerland. He was the recipient of the “Young Artist of the Year” award for 1998 by the “National Society of Critics for music and drama”,
Special award for his cultural work as Radio Director from the “Maria Callas Society for the new Lyric Academy” and as a producer from the “Friends of Classical Music Society”.
Appointed “Artist in Residence” at the Awarded International Classical Music and Opera “Festival of the Aegean” in Syros ,2013.
ACADEMICS
He has obtained his titles and diplomas in all the fields of his activities (piano, composition, conducting, teaching), with honours and distinctions from the Royal Academy of Music in London (with full scholarship and “Leverhume Trust Fellowship”), University of London, Thames Valley University the Athens State Conservatory. He was also granted the Onassis Foundation scholarship, among many others.
Christos Papageorgiou gives regularly numerous lectures and lecture concerts (many times both as soloist and conductor). He had been teaching for 10 years Music History and Piano at the Ionian University in Corfu and the National School of Dance, was a regular pre-concert lecturer for the Athens State Orchestra’s annual series and lectured in many Institutions around Greece and abroad such as the Wiener Gesselschaft fur Music, Lucern Conesrvatory, the Mass Media Department of the Athens University the Postgraduate Department of the School of Architecture of Volos University e.t.c.
Since 2019 the composer is represented worldwide by MUSICENTRY
Selected Critics on Christos Papageorgiou
...The production captivated the audience in the packed Summer Theatre, elicited applause and received wide media coverage. ...the show ...can rank alongside Broadway masterpieces...
Varna State Opera House, 14/8/2023
"Callas and Onassis" fully met the expectations of an amazing and high-quality encounter with art... "the maximum" was the hallmark of this excellent premiere.
Violeta Toncheva Pr.- Manager Drama Theatre Varna & State Opera Varna
The love of Callas and Onassis - hot and beautifully sung. With prolonged applause, shouts of "Bravo!" and cries of ecstasy as after a rock concert, the audience in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture welcomed the world premiere of the opera-musical "Callas and Onassis" by Greek composer Christos Papageorgiou
"Culture" 14/12/2023 Irina Gigova
“Α Masterpiece, this will stay in history. A great musical work. An achievement of the highest level for any composer or performer. An ambassador of modern music for Greece which should be presented all over the world.”
Mikis Theodorakis on “Stylistic Variations”
“…a unified expression of tautly focused energy. It was a great concert opener and marked the work of someone whose career would be interesting to follow.”
Garaud MacTaggart “CITY & REGION” Wednesday March 20, 2013
“…of the Skalkottas’ monumental set of 36 Greek Dances this one (by Papageorgiou) could be the …37th !..”
Monemvasitis “Eleftherotypia” Newspaper, March 12 2013
”…An amazing composer ….”Pyrrichios” is an absolute winner!”
Maestro JoAnn Falleta, Grammy Award Winner, Artistic Director Buffalo Philharmonic Orchsetra
“…Papageorgiou the composer and Papageorgiou the performer presents a unique “one-man-show” …
George Leotsakos (Musicologist (Groves Dictionary of Music), Composer, Secretary of the National Critics Association) EXPRESS- Financial Newspaper. March 13, 2010
VARNA
THE MAXIMUM! This was not an ordinary premiere event, which happens for the first time in the world, but really a world premiere, in the comprehensive sense of the term. "Callas and Onassis” fully lived up to the expectations of a surprising and high-quality encounter with art…” the maximum” was the hallmark of this outstanding premiere.
Violeta Toncheva
Pr.- Manager Drama Theatre Varna State Opera
State Opera Varna Announcement 14-08-23
After the huge success of the world premiere in June, "Callas and Onassis" …The production captivated the audience in the packed Summer Theatre, evoked applause and provoked wide media coverage. … the show …can rank alongside the Broadway masterpieces…
‘’The music of Christos Papageorgiou, skillfully bridges elements combining the genres of both opera and musical’’
OPERA HOLIDAYS -2nd presentation of CALLAS & ONASSIS VARNA SUMMER THEATRE
EDITOR: YULIANA KARAATANASOVA / 14 AUGUST 2023 /
Living the love of Callas and Onassis. World premiere of "Callas and Onassis" by Christos Papageorgiou on the stage of State
Ancient Greek tragedy of love, jealousy, betrayal and a tragic end (State Opera - Varna)
Ballet scenes full of elegance, as one part of the whole, enhance the expressiveness of the stage action. The music is eclectic, recreating some of the fashionable dances in the 1950s-60s, as well as some characteristic features of the bel canto style, whose interpretation by Maria Callas, has been called by Leonard Bernstein : "an operatic bible".
The images of the main characters were convincingly presented by Eva Perchemlieva and Marios Andreou. The soprano possesses diverse gifts and has performed in a wide range of genres. This experience enabled Eva Perchemlieva to tackle the difficult vocal part with confidence and artistry based on good vocal technique.
The emotional impact was sought in the depth of the heroine's personal dramas and the careful construction of her dual image - of the idolized singer, aware of the power of her impact on the audience, and of the fragile, insecure woman, who elevated love to a pedestal as the greatest value in life.
Nikolai Kolev as Stavros, Georgi Georgiev as Costas, Kalina Zhekova as Elsa Maxwell, Milena Zakharieva as Maria's mother and Floria Sotirov as the young Maria deserve admiration. Impressive was the vocal performance of Ivo Yordanov as Sir Winston Churchill. Volena Apostolova as Jackie Kennedy vocally covered the character perfectly, but could be even more convincing if she overcame the slight stiffness in her stage behavior. A real treat for the ear was the duet of Alexander - played by Borislav Vezhenov and Fiona - played by Irene Lazarova. The ensemble scenes and the ballet performances were some of the best in the show.
TIRANA 8-9/10/23
THE ALBANIAN AUDIENCE APPLAUDED "CALLAS AND ONASIS" OF THE STATE OPERA VARNA
The opera-musical "Callas and Onassis" by the composer Christos Papageorgiou…, was a huge success and packed houses. The audience in Tirana commented with "fantastic" and "wonderful performances”…
....is a fascinating love story between two iconic figures
the performers beautifully combine operatic and Broadway-style singing. Performances of traditional Greek music add to the diversity of the show.
After a packed summer theatre in Varna and an extraordinary date for the performance in the summer, in October "Callas and Onassis" captivated audiences in the Albanian capital, Tirana. The musical's tour of Sofia is among the musical events in December that should not be missed…
SOFIA 13-12-23
"Callas and Onassis" opened the New Year's music festival in the National Palace of Culture
The second world premiere of the opera-musical by Christos Papageorgiou was honored by the presidents of Bulgaria and Albania…gathered the ovations of a large audience in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture .
...high quality singing is present throughout the show, and each of the performers gives their all to make the show a success, with every hit followed by constant final applause…
…the images of the heroes that the two protagonists - Eva Perkhemlieva and Marios Andreou - sculpt vocally and acting-wise, can only be defined as great achievements…
...and in the official theory, side by side, the presidents of the Bulgarian Democracy, Rumen Radev and the visiting head of the Albanian state, President Bairam Begai. The success of the performance was undoubted, the play was received with joy. What better practical confirmation...
Dimitar Sotirov 15/12/23
The love of Callas and Onassis enchanted the audience at the Varna State Opera.
The world premiere of Christos Papageorgiou's opera-musical brought two presidents together in Hall 1 of the Sofia Palace of Culture.
The love of Callas and Onassis - hot and beautifully sung. With prolonged applause, shouts of "Bravo!" and cries of ecstasy as after a rock concert, the audience in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture welcomed the world premiere of the opera-musical "Kalas and Onassis" by Greek composer Christos Papageorgiou
....Papageorgiou attended the performance in person and was applauded by a standing ovation from the audience along with the outstanding soloists in the leading roles - Bulgarian soprano Eva Perchemlieva and Cypriot baritone with an international career, graduate of our Music Academy, Marios Andreou. The production is by the State Opera - Varna, and apart from its soloists, chorus and ballet, the orchestra and chorus of the National Opera and Ballet of Albania had a special participation in the performance. The work, ... combines different musical styles and imposes different ways of performance - classical opera singing and Broadway musical sound, jazz and syrtaki. Eva and Marios are excellent in everything: she stylizes with incredible ease the characteristic trills captured from the recordings of Callas, he is knocked out in the aria, reminiscent of Greek folk melodies, in the most dramatic scene
Eva and Marios are excellent in everything they do on stage: Eva focuses and performs with incredible ease the characteristically “unapproachable” trills captured on Callas' recordings, and Marios moves with effortless conviction in the aria reminiscent of Greek folk singing, in the most dramatic scene of Onassis' biography... And not only that. The opera-musical is sung in three languages: mainly in English, in the more intimate moments - in Greek and in Italian.
The premiere of the opera-musical "Callas and Onassis", with which the New Year's Music Festival opened yesterday evening at the National Palace of Culture, was honoured by two presidents - Bulgarian Rumen Radev and his Albanian counterpart Bairam Begai with their wives
CULTURE
14 Dec 2023 IRINA GIGOVA