Andreas Paridis

Andreas Paridis was born in Patras on 28/2/1910. His father was director of the Patras Philharmonic. He studied piano at the Athens Conservatory under Spyros Farandatos and advanced music theory at the Hellenic Conservatory of Music and Arts with composer Marios Varvoglis. He began his career as a pianist and recital accompanist (1939). Subsequently, he went to Rome to study conducting at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma, where he gained experience conducting operas alongside Bernardino Molinari and other Italian conductors (1947-51). Upon his return to Greece, he undertook the position of permanent conductor with the Athens State Orchestra, of which he also served as director during the period 1969-75. At the same time, he conducted the Symphony Orchestra of the National Radio Foundation (EIR), as well as the orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He worked with distinguished opera singers and filmmakers establishing an international career, in the course of which he conducted leading symphony orchestras, such as: the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra Manchester, the symphony orchestras of Moscow, Detroit, Berlin, Paris, Prague, Bucharest, Belgrade, Zagreb, and Buenos Aires. He conducted opera performances at the Rome Opera House and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. He served as director of the Greek National Opera during the seasons 1957-58 and 1967-68. Between 1957 and 1991, he conducted 24 operas in 36 new productions and revivals at the Greek National Opera: Aida, Turandot, Boris Godunov, Tannhäuser, Samson and Delilah, Moses in Egypt [Mosè in Egitto], Prince Igor, Othello, Il Trovatore, La traviata, Norma, Falstaff, Simon Boccanegra, Nabucco, Albert Herring, Tosca, etc. He conducted from memory. For his work and contribution, he was decorated in Greece, Yugoslavia (Grand Commander) and Italy (Commander of the Order of Merit).

Source: National Opera – Educational Virtual Museum