Giorgos Pappas (Papagiannakopoulos)

He was born in Aigio in 1939. He took up vocal training at the National Conservatory under Marika Kalfopoulou. A “Maria Callas” scholarship allowed him to continue studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts (Hochschule für Musik und Theater München), Munich and the University of Music and Performing Arts (Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien), Vienna under Elisabeth Radó. In the 1960s, he sang in opera houses in Switzerland and Germany. His international career included appearances in leading music centers of Europe: Milan (Scala), London (Royal Opera House), Munich, Vienna, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bologna, Palermo, Genoa, Rome, Venice, Madrid, Prague, Paris, the Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland), the Lucerne Festival (Switzerland), etc. He also appeared in the Soviet Union and Latin America. He has won a number of awards in international singing competitions: Verviers and Geneva (1962), Munich and Barcelona (1963), Toulouse and Parma (1967), Prague (1967). He excelled as Sarastro [The Magic Flute/Die Zauberflöte], Ramfis [Aida], Father Guarantano [La forza del destino], Daland [The Flying Dutchman/Der fliegende Holländer], Pogner [Die Meistersänger von Nürnberg]. His remarkably extensive repertoire included parts from baroque to Wagner. He was renowned for his rich, warm-timbred and strong voice. He sang various oratorios in concerts. He returned to Greece in 1974. He worked with the GNO during the period 1976 to 2004, singing leading roles in operas: Macbeth, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, The Coronation of Poppea [L’incoronazione di Poppea], Faust, Don Carlo, The Flying Dutchman, etc. He took part in the GNO premiers of the following works: La Cenerentola, L’Italiana in Algeri and Giulio Cesare. He was one of the pioneers in the foundation of the Opera of Thessaloniki (1976). He has recorded several records. He passed away in Aigio on 8/12/2012.

Source: Greek National Opera Educational Virtual Museum