Maria (also known as Marianna or Mary) Kalogeropoulou, a resident of 61 Patission Street, was a young member of the National Theatre Opera Company (later the Greek National Opera) who took the lead role in six well- and lesser-known operatic works during the period of the Greco-Italian War and the German Occupation. Kalogeropoulou sang most of these diverse roles in Greek, and at venues that remain landmarks of Athenian cultural life: the Olympia Theatre, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Pallas Theatre. Less than a year after the liberation of Greece in August 1945, the music critic Sophia Spanoudi announced in the Ta Nea newspaper that Maria Kalogeropoulou, later known as Maria Callas, “soon leaves for America, where she was born, and where she will certainly fulfil her potential…”
A tribute to Maria Callas: The greek years (1937 -1945)
With excerpts from the following operas:
Eugen d’Albert (1864-1932), Tiefland [On the plain]
Vospiel
“Ich weiß nicht, wer mein Vater war”
[Scene and monologue from Act II]
Marta Julia Souglakou, soprano
Tommaso Christoforos Stampoglis, bass
Manolis Kalomiris (1883-1962), The Masterbuilder [O protomastoras]
Idyllic Dance No 2 – Intermezzo of the Singer
“Oh Sun! Oh Sun!”
[Aria from Act II]
Smaragda Julia Souglakou, soprano
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Fidelio
“Mir ist so wunderbar”
[Quartet Act I]
“Gut, Söhnchen, gut”
[Terzetto from Act I]
“Abscheulicher!”
[Recitative and aria Act I]
Leonore Markella Hatziano, mezzosoprano
Marzelline Maria Mitsopoulou, soprano
Jaquino Yannis Christopoulos, tenor
Rocco Christoforos Stamboglis, bass
Intermission
Carl Millöcker (1842-1899), Der Bettelstudent [The Beggar Student]
“Soll ich reden? Darf ich schweigen?… Ich setz’ den Fall”
[Duet from Act II]
“Doch wenns im Lied hinaus dann klinget”
[Songs from Act I]
Laura Maria Mitsopoulou, soprano
Symon Yannis Christopoulos, tenor
Giaccomo Puccini (1858-1924), Tosca
“Mario! Mario! Mario!”
[Duet from Act I]
“Vissi d’arte”
[Aria from Act II]
Floria Tosca Julia Souglakou, soprano
Mario Cavaradossi Angelo Simos, tenor
Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) Cavalleria Rusticana
Intermezzo
“Voi lo sapete, o mamma”
[Aria]
“Tu qui, Santuzza?”
[Duet]
Santuzza Markella Hatziano, mezzosoprano
Turiddu Angelo Simos, tenor
Athens State Orchestra
Conducted by Miltos Logiadis
Artistic direction Aris Christofellis
€60 (Prime Circle); €40 (Α’); €30 (Β’); €20 (C’); €15 (Upper Tier). Concessions available.