Opera Night titled «Giacomo Puccini and His Era» featuring two permanent collaborators of the Greek National Opera. The distinguished soprano, a graduate of the renowned Music Academy of Munich, Anna Stylianaki, and the tenor, a graduate of Trinity College of Music in London, Philip Modinos. Accompanying on the piano is the exceptional Dimitris Yiakas.
A few details about the artists
ANNA STYLIANAKI
Greek soprano, she studied voice and opera at the Thessaloniki State Conservatory (diploma, under Katerina Karatza). She continued postgraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Munich, under Daphne Evangelatos and completed her Lied studies under Helmut Deutsch. She received scholarships from Maria Callas Association and Richard Wagner Verband International (Munich). She has performed Veronica (Le docteur Miracle), Mimì (La bohème), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni for GNO’s “Suitcase Opera”), Jessie (The Little Mahagonny), Vivika (The godson), Micaëla (Carmen), Arminda (La finta giardiniera), Sara (Carrer’s Fior di Maria), Anthoula (Perouze), and the title role in Samaras’ Mademoiselle de Belle-Ιsle (Athens Concert Hall). She participated at the first presentation of the works of Sinem Altan, Amos Elkana, Giorgos Koumendakis in Munich (“Odyssey”, 2013), as well as at the world premiere of Dimitris Papademetriou’s Satyricon (Onassis Cultural Centre, 2014). She received honorary mention at the Grand Prix Maria Callas (2014) and 3rd Award at the Marie Kraya International Singing Competition (2015).
PHILIP MODINOS
He was born in Bremen. He first studied classical singing with his parents, John Modinos and Jenny Drivala, with whom he began performing at a young age. He studied singing, piano and conducting at Trinity College London. As a pianist he collaborated with Liszt Society and Alkan Society and performed in London’s concert halls. He participated in the sound recording of the children’s musical Pol and Lara by Dimitris Katis. He was artistic director of the Casa dei Mezzo Festival in Crete (2008). Along with soprano Kassandra Dimopoulou, he founded the company Skull of Yorick Productions. While studying he performed in numerous productions, including the world premiere of Cry of Innocence. The first role he interpreted was Prince Yamadori at Madama Butterfly by Puccini. His recent performance as Siegfried was received with high critical acclaim (Fulham Opera, London). From 2006 onwards he has sang, among others, roles such as Radamès [Aida] (Como, Italy), Canio [Pagliacci], Gabriele Adorno [Simon Boccanegra] (Valladolid, Spain), Othello [Otello] (Saint Peter, London), Don José [Carmen], Idomeneo [Idomeneo, King of Crete /Idomeneo, re di Creta] in Greece, England, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt and the USA (Barbican Centre in London, Greek National Opera, Opera of Alexandria, etc). He has also interpreted soloist parts in the following works: Stabat Mater by Dvorzak, Mass of Glory [Messa di Gloria] by Puccini and Requiem by Verdi. He collaborated with the Greek National Opera twice. He sang the roles of Turiddu [Cavalleria rusticana] (2012-13) and Macduff [Macbeth] (2013-14, Athens Concert Hall).
DIMITRIS YAKAS
Dimitris Yiakas was born in Athens. He received his Piano Diploma from the National Conservatory (class of Myrto Mavrikou). He continued his musical studies at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, specializing in Piano, Chamber Music, and Opera Music Preparation, and later studied Song Accompaniment with Dalton Baldwin. From 1982 to 1991, he worked as a pianist and music coach at the Paris Opera and subsequently at the Lyon Opera, invited by the Art Director Kent Nagano. Concurrently, he performed as a piano accompanist for singers in Paris and at numerous cities and festivals throughout France. Since 1990, he has been based in Athens, where he began his regular collaboration with the Greek National Opera and the Athens Concert Hall. He frequently accompanies Greek and international singers in concerts both in Greece and abroad.
