Miltiades Caridis

Miltiades Caridis was born in Gdańsk, Poland (then the Free City of Danzig / Freie Stadt Danzig) on May 9, 1923. Raised and educated in Dresden, he moved to Greece with his family in 1938, where he continued his studies at the German School of Athens. At the Athens Conservatory, he received piano lessons from Ivi Panagiotopoulou and studied theory with Theodoros Vavayannis. His formal education in orchestral conducting took place at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, under the guidance of composer Josef Marx and conductor Hans Swarowsky (1944-47). Following his graduation, further studies with Hermann Scherchen and Herbert von Karajan expanded his expertise.

Caridis’ professional career began at the Viennese Theater in Josefstadt in 1946. He later held key positions as chief conductor at various radio stations and major European opera houses, including Bregenz (1947-48), Graz (1948-59), and Cologne (1959-62), as well as in Vienna and other cities. Leadership roles followed with the philharmonic orchestras of Oslo (1969-75), Duisburg (1975-81), the Tonkünstler (1978-88), and the Hungarian Philharmonic (1960-67). He also became the permanent conductor of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1962-66). Frequent invitations to prestigious European festivals such as Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, and Salzburg highlighted his reputation as a sought-after conductor.

Known for his extensive repertoire, Caridis premiered over 100 contemporary works and championed the music of important Greek composers like Kalomiris, Evangelatos, Skalkottas, and Christou. His performances in Greece included appearances at the Herod Atticus Theater and the Megaron, where he conducted both international and Greek orchestras. At the Greek National Opera, he led notable productions of Otello (1977-78), The Tales of Hoffmann (1984-85), and excerpts from Wagner’s operas. In addition to his conducting career, Caridis taught at prestigious institutions in Vienna and Dresden.

In 1995, he assumed the role of general director of the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT. Tragically, Caridis passed away while conducting a rehearsal on March 1, 1998. Throughout his life, he participated in juries for international conducting competitions and received several honours, including the Béla Bartók Prize (Hungary, 1981) and recognition from the Academy of Athens (1991). His legacy is preserved through numerous recorded interpretations.

Source: Greek National Opera Educational Virtual Museum