Maira Milolidaki & Nikos Spanatis / Händel / Duetti Italiani / A mirarvi io son intento /April 2011

http://www.nikosspanatis.com/ Museum of Cycladic Art A Museum made of Music Georg Friedrich Händel Duetti Italiani Duetto VI (allegro - largo - presto) A mirarvi io son intento Ma l'amor per mio tormento E vibrando in un baleno Maira Milolidaki Soprano Nikos Spanatis Countertenor Effi Minakoulis, theorbe Katerina Ktona, harpsichord A concert cycle sponsored by A. S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation April 2011, Athens, Greece Born in Athens, the soprano Maria Milolidaki studied piano and classical singing at the Athens Conservatory (Soloist diploma A with excellence), with the bass F. Voutsinos, the counter tenor A. Christofellis, and the baritone K. Paschalis. She attended master classes on the interpretation of Lied with the pianists R. Jansen (Amsterdam Conservatory) and R. Hoffmann (Musikhochschule Frankfurt), on the early music with M. van Egmond and on the repertoire with A. Pearce, J. Pilou and the vocal coach Neil Semer. Her theatrical training includes 3 years of studying acting and improvisation. She also took part in the workshops on the art of performance directed by H. Waldmann and J. Szeiler (Drama School of National Theatre). As a scholar of the Onassis Foundation she pursued her vocal studies for 2 years in Milan, Italy, with the soprano Maria Luisa Cioni and the pianist Roberto Negri (maestro di spartito, Teatro alla Scala). She also studied vocal interpretation with Renata Scotto as a member of the Opera Studio in the National Academy of Santa Cecilia (Rome, Italy, artistic director. A. Pappano). Also: PhD (Doctorat d'Etat) on French language (Sorbonne, Paris IV). Law Degree, University of Athens. She won the Enrico Caruso competition for young lyric voices (Milan 2003) and the Francesco Martini bel canto competition (Veneto, 2003). She also won the national competition to represent Greece in the Biennale for young artists in Rome, 2000). Performances : Gilda, Rigoletto, G.Verdi, directed by S. Milnes (Aegean Opera, International Young Artists Program), Sängerin, Das Leben des Galilei, B.Brecht (National Theatre of Greece). Pamina, Die Zauberflöte, W.A. Mozart (Opera House of Athens). .Serpina, La Serva Padrona, G.B. Pergolesi (Chamber Opera of Athens). Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor, staged by Renata Scotto (Thessaloniki Concert Hall). Magda, La Rondine, G.Puccini, staged by C.Scarton (Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome, Opera Studio) Die Schleppenträgerin, Elektra, R.Strauss, staged by M.Hampe, directed by Johan Arnell (Athens Concert Hall). Clytemnestra, Eumenides, Eschyle (Ancient Drama Festival, Athens). Violetta (La Traviata, G. Verdi, Apollon Theatre of Patras) Königin der Nacht, Die Zauberflöte, W.A. Mozart (Opera House of Athens, staged by A. Bernard) Also in her repertoire: Romilda, Serse, G.F. Händel, Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro, W.A. Mozart, Manon, Manon, J. Massenet, Glauce, Medea, L. Cherubini, La Voix Humaine, F. Poulenc, Sequenza III for solo voice, L. Berio. In November 2007, she has made her American debut performing with the quintet Melos Brass at Carnegie Hall, New York. As a soloist, she has appeared with national and international ensembles and artists (The Orchestra of colors, the Camerata Orchestra " Friends of music", the Ensemble of Contemporary Music, the Symphonic Orchestra of Athens, the National Orchestra of Athens, the quintet Melos Brass, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica Tito Schipa, the baroque ensemble Sinfonia, the Orchestra I Pomeriggi musicali, the organist J. Geffert, the New Hellenic Quartet, under the direction of conductors such as A. Myrat, Christopher Warren Green, G.P. Sanzogno, J. Arnell, Nicoletta Conti, Wolfgang Schroeder, in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal (Casa de Mateus baroque festival), and Italy (Milan, Teatro dal Verme, Rome, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia). Recordings: Lullabies from Europe, Acroasis records, The memory of Time, cantata for string quartet, soprano and baritone, New Hellenic Quartet -- Echo recordings, University of Cyprus.