Biography Marita Paparizou mezzo Soprano

Marita Paparizou, Mezzo Soprano


Born in Greece, Marita Paparizou made her operatic debut in Genoa in the role of Onaro in the revival in modern times of Porpora’s «Arianna in Nasso», after winning the scholarship of the Alexandra Trianti Foundation from the Athens Megaron, in 1999.

Ever since she has collaborated with the Greek National Opera, singing many roles including the 3rd Lady in «Die Zauberflöte», Maddalena in «Rigoletto», Fenena in «Nabucco», Amastre in «Serse», the title role in «Orlando Furioso», Rosina in «Il Barbiere di Siviglia», Isabella in «L’Italiana in Algeri», Isolier in «Le Comte Ory» and the title role in «Carmen».

She has recorded for the Greek National Radio De Falla’s «El Amor Brujo» a part she sung again in the Thessalonica Megaron. She has also sung the role of Dido in Purcell’s «Dido and Aeneas» in Corfu.

She has been invited throughout Europe in many theatres such as the Opera of Monte Carlo to sing the title role in «Tancredi», and many Italian theatres such as Pisa, Livorno and Trento singing Arsace in «Semiramide». Her exceptional ability to sing coloratura roles, led her to sing Rossini again in Massy in the role of Isabella in «L’Italiana in Algeri» and Smeton in Bilbao next to June Anderson’s Anna Bolena. She has also sung the role of Circe in Gluck’s «Telemaco» in the revival of the work in modern times both in London (Sadler’s Wells) and in Athens (Herod Atticus Theatre), where her dramatic performance was compared to a Michael Cacoyannis heroine.

Nevertheless her voice was considered suitable to sing the role of Mary in Marseilles in «Der Fliegende Holländer», with A. Jordan, thus giving her the opportunity in the Greek National Opera to sing both roles of Ježibaba and the Foreign Princess in the same production of A. Dvořák’s «Rusalka».

In 2009 her Carmen debut in Larissa Greece gave her the award of «Production of the Year» by the Greek Society of Theatre and Music Critics.

As far as the Baroque repertoire is concerned she has collaborated with Maestro Antonio Florio and the Cappella della Pietà de‘ Turchini in a series of concerts in Spain with works of Porpora, and with Maestro Claudio Scimone first in the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and afterwards in Athens Megaron and the Veneto Festival with I Solisti Veneti.

She has also performed with many orchestras such as the Oxford Philomusica, the London Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Cameristi della Scala in a Gala Evening with operas related to Greece.

A CD of her singing the role of Tauride in Händel’s «Arianna in Creta», with George Petrou and the Soloists of Patras, has already been released by MDG, with great critic acclaim winning many distinctions, including CHOC de la Musique, whereas her new profile CD has been released recently, again by MDG, with Claudio Scimone and I Solisti Veneti, gaining excellent reviews and awards.

She has been invited to sing in opera concerts and oratorios including Verdi’s «Messa da Requiem», Mozart’s «Mass in C Minor», Bruckner’s «Te Deum», Haydn’s «Nelsonmesse», Rossini’s and Vivaldi’s «Stabat Mater» in London (Cadogan Hall and Queen Elizabeth’s Hall), Paris (Châtelet), Oxford, Geneva, Athens (next to Christopher Hogwood) and Thessalonica Concert Halls whereas she has been a frequent guest at the Patmos Festival of Religious Music, singing Bach’s cantatas and Negro Spirituals.

The exceptional flexibility of her voice allowed her to sing many works by modern composers such as Respighi, Boulez, Vrondos, Antoniou, Marangopoulos, Alice Kollias and many others.