Curriculum Vitae
Spanos Nicholas
Countertenor
Nicholas Spanos was born in Greece, where he took his first singing lessons at the age of 21 with Helen Lionna and Aris Christofellis. In 2000 he continued his studies in the Graduate Department of the University of Maryland School of Music in the U.S.A. with soprano Linda Mabbs (voice) and Leon Major (stage director). For his studies he held a scholarship from the "Friends of Music Society" in Athens, as well as an assistantship from the University. He graduated in 2002 with a Master's Degree in Voice/Opera Performance. He has diplomas in Harmony (1997) and Counterpoint (1999) from the New Conservatory of Thessalonica (class of N. Solomonides). He has actively participated in numerous voice masterclasses taught by prominent teachers, such as Kurt Equiluz, Delores Ziegler, Anna Tomowa - Sintow and Michael Chance. In 2007 and 2008 he gave masterclasses in Baroque style and singing technique in Ayios Lavrendios, Greece, in the Music Village Seminar. In 2006 he founded the "Trissevjeni Kalokyri Vocal Ensemble" in Thessalonica, Greece and has been conducting it since.
Nicholas Spanos has been acclaimed for his excellence in opera performance, as well as oratorio and recital. Kiriakatiki Avyi regarded him as “the big revelation” and has praised his singing as “melodic and soft, yet colored with passion”. Eleftherotypia found that he sings with “touching tenderness and exemplary musicality, featuring versatile melodic phrasing, pursued and accomplished with perfectionism”, while Estia describes his skill as one of “impressive, impeccable technique and expressive clarity” and praises his “originality and high level of his appearance”. Kathimerini called him a “rising star” whereas Vima cited his name as “a name to be read, written, learned and remembered”. International press mentions his “surprisingly potent voice for a countertenor” (Opèra International) as well as his “sweet timbre, beautiful legato and flair for ornamentation that go along with credible acting” (L’opera). Der Neue Merker finds his voice “tender and full of expression”, whereas Giornale della musica praises “his sweet, yet strong timbre” and finds that “his musical intelligence offers him good control over the technical capabilities”. The Washington Post called him “an extraordinary countertenor”.
Nicholas Spanos has preformed in Greece as well as in the United States. He has collaborated with modern Greek and foreign composers such as G. Kouroupos, D. Kamarotos, C. Selamsis, D. Soldier, as well as many orchestras, namely The Athens State Orchestra, The Thessaloniki State Orchestra, The Orchestra of Colours, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Denmark, Camerata Stuttgart, Bach Sinfonia. He also sings occasionally with early music ensembles, such as “Ex Silentio” and “Latinitas Nostra”.
He sang the part of Vladimir Lenin in Dave Soldier’s opera “Naked Revolution”, staged by the Multimedia Department of George Mason University, in Virginia. Also, he has created the role of Ludwig Schumann in the semi-staged world premiere of Robert Convery’s “Clara Schumann” at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in Maryland, obtaining favourable reviews. A “wonderful, passionate and masculine Arsamene”, he sang in the Greek National Opera production of G. F. Händel’s “Serse” in Athens. His Nerone in Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea” (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, MD, U.S.A.) was highly acclaimed by the “Washington Post”. In October 2002 he sang the part of Der Hüter der Schwelle in Richard Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten” in the Athens Megaron Concert Hall (cast including Inga Nielsen and Eva Màrton, stage director Michael Hampe) with The Radio Symphony Orchestra of Denmark under the baton of Michael Schønwandt. After that came Ruggiero in Vivaldi’s “Orlando Furioso” in the National Opera, in January 2003, and Filotete in Händel’s “Oreste” in July 2003. Later, in 2004, Prince Go-Go in Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre” in the National Opera of Greece and after that, Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus”. In 2006 he was Tamerlano in the Athens Festival's production of Händel's opera, whereas in October 2007 he sang The Page in R. Strauss' "Salome". For all the aforementioned roles Mr. Spanos has been mentioned to very favourably in both the Greek and international Press. In November 2002 he was awarded the Best Young Artist of the Year Award for his interpretation of Arsamene in Händel’s “Serse”.
He has recorded 2 Händel operas ("Oreste" and "Tamerlano") with the german label MDG.
His repertory ranges from early Baroque opera parts, such as Nerone (Cl. Monteverdi, L' incoronazione di Poppea) and Orfeo (Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice), into contemporary parts composed for the countertenor voice, such as Oberon (Britten, Midsummer night’s dream). An elaborate list of details and performance experience follows in the "Read more" link below.
Official website: www.nicholas-spanos.com
Repertoire
Convery, R. “Clara Schumann” (LUDWIG) [Weltpremiere]
Gluck, “Orfeo et Euridice”, (ORFEO)
Händel, “Oreste” (FILOTETE)
Händel, “Serse” (ARSAMENE)
Händel, “Tamerlano” (TAMERLANO)
Ligeti, “Le Grand Macabre” (PRINCE GO-GO)
Monteverdi, “L’incoronazione di Poppea” (NERONE) [auf Englisch]
Purcell, “Dido et Aeneas” (SPIRIT)
Soldier, D. “Naked Revolution” (LENIN)
Strauss, J. “Die Fledermaus” (ORLOFSKY)
Strauss, R. “Die Frau ohne Schatten” (HÜTER DER SCHWELLE)
Strauss, R. “Salome” (PAGE)
Vivaldi, “Giustino”(GIUSTINO)
Vivaldi, “Orlando furioso” (RUGGIERO)
THEATERMUSIK
Debussy “Le martyre de Saint – Sebastien” (Jumeau I)
Kamarotos, D. “Proserpina” – Ballettmusik für Kontratenor und Streicher
ORATORIEN, HEILIGE KANTATEN (vollständig)
Bach, J.S., “Magnificat” (soprano 2)
Boccherini, “Stabat Mater”, v.1800
Caldara, A. “Vaticini di pace” (GIUSTIZIA)
Fiocco, “Lamentatio II”
Iribarren “Por aquel horizonte” (Cantada al Nacimiento)
Pergolesi “Stabat Mater” (alto)
Rosano, M. “Stabat Mater” für Kontratenore und Streicher
Scarlatti, A. “Stabat Mater” (alto)
Schütz, “Ihr Heiligen, lobsinget dem Herren” (Klein geistliches Konzert op.8, soprano 2)
Vivaldi, “Juditha triumphans” (HOLOFERNES)
Vivaldi, “Stabat Mater”
Zelenka, “Christe, eleison”
WELTLICHE CANTATEN (vollständig)
Bononcini, “Fuori di sua capanna”
Caldara, “Vicino a un rivoletto”
Caldara, “Lungi dal idol mio”
Händel, “Mi palpita il cor”
Legrenzi, “Che non fa, che non può”
Vivaldi, “Cessate, omai cessate”
Vivaldi, “Pianti, sospiri e dimandar mercede”
Vivaldi “All’ ombra di sospetto”
ARIEN, KANZONETTEN, LIEDER, MELODIEN, ROMANZEN
Bach, J.S.,
aria “Bereite dich, Zion” (“Weinachts-oratorium”)
aria “Erbarme Dich” (“Matthäus-Passion”)
aria “Leget euch” (Kantate N. )
aria “Die Obrigkeit ist Gottes Gabe” (Kantate N.119)
aria “Bereite dich, Zion” (“Weinachts-oratorium”)
aria “Erbarme Dich” (“Matthäus-Passion”)
aria “Leget euch” (Kantate N. )
aria “Die Obrigkeit ist Gottes Gabe” (Kantate N.119)
Bellini,
aria “Il fervido desiderio”
aria “Dolente imagine di Fille mia”
aria “Vaga luna, che inargenti”
aria “Ma rendi pur contento”
aria “Il fervido desiderio”
aria “Dolente imagine di Fille mia”
aria “Vaga luna, che inargenti”
aria “Ma rendi pur contento”
Broschi, R.
aria “Ombra fedele anch’ io”
aria “Ombra fedele anch’ io”
Caccini
“Tu ch’ hai le penne, amore”
“Amarilli, mia bella”
“Amor, ch’ attendi”
“Tu ch’ hai le penne, amore”
“Amarilli, mia bella”
“Amor, ch’ attendi”
Caldara
aria “Sebben, crudele”
aria “Selve amiche”
aria “Sebben, crudele”
aria “Selve amiche”
Campion,
ayre “Here she her sacred bower adorns”
ayre “Here she her sacred bower adorns”
Cesti
aria “Intorno all’ idol mio”
aria “Intorno all’ idol mio”
Dowland,
ayre “Come again, sweet love doth now invite”
ayre “Come again, sweet love doth now invite”
Durant, G.
“Ma belle, si ton âme” (“airs de cour”)
“Ma belle, si ton âme” (“airs de cour”)
Giordani, G.
aria “Caro mio ben”
aria “Caro mio ben”
Gluck
aria “O del mio dolce ardor”
aria “O del mio dolce ardor”
Gounod, Ch.
“Sérénade”
“Sérénade”
Hahn, R.
“A Chloris”
“Infidelité”
“A Chloris”
“Infidelité”
Händel “Alcina”
aria “Verdi prati”
aria “Verdi prati”
Händel “Giulio Cesare in Egitto”
aria “Va tacito e nascosto”
aria “Cara speme”
recit. + aria “Dal ondoso periglio… Aure, deh per pieta”
aria “Va tacito e nascosto”
aria “Cara speme”
recit. + aria “Dal ondoso periglio… Aure, deh per pieta”
Händel “Partenope”
aria “Furibondo spira il vento”
aria “Furibondo spira il vento”
Händel “Rinaldo”
aria “Cara sposa”
aria “Venti turbini”
aria “Cara sposa”
aria “Venti turbini”
Händel “Rodelinda”
aria “Dove sei, amato bene?”
aria “Dove sei, amato bene?”
Händel “L’ allegro, il moderato e il penseroso”
aria “Sometimes let gorgeous tragedy”
aria “Sometimes let gorgeous tragedy”
Händel “Messiah”
aria “But who may abide”
duet “He shall feed his flock”
aria “But who may abide”
duet “He shall feed his flock”
Händel “Solomon”
aria “What though I trace”
aria “What though I trace”
Händel “Theodora”
aria “The raptur’d soul”
aria “Sweet rose and lilly”
aria “The raptur’d soul”
aria “Sweet rose and lilly”
Mahler
“Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?”
“Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?”
Mozart
– Lied “Abendempfindung”
– Lied “Das Lied der Trennung”
– Lied “Sehnsucht nach dem Frühling”
“Mitridate”, aria “Già dagli occhi” (FARNACE)
“Le nozze di Figaro”, aria “Voi, che sapete” (CHERUBINO)
– Lied “Abendempfindung”
– Lied “Das Lied der Trennung”
– Lied “Sehnsucht nach dem Frühling”
“Mitridate”, aria “Già dagli occhi” (FARNACE)
“Le nozze di Figaro”, aria “Voi, che sapete” (CHERUBINO)
Paisiello,
“Nel cor più non mi sento”
“Nel cor più non mi sento”
Pergolesi
“In coelestibus regnis” (Motet)
“In coelestibus regnis” (Motet)
Purcell
“The plaint”
“The plaint”
Rachmaninoff
“Vocalise” op. 34, N. 14
“Vocalise” op. 34, N. 14
Rossini
“Tancredi”, recit. + aria “Tu, che accendi… Di tanti palpiti”
“Tancredi”, recit. + aria “Tu, che accendi… Di tanti palpiti”
Scarlatti, A.
“O cessate di piagarmi”
“O cessate di piagarmi”
Schubert
Lied “Frühlingsglaube”
Lied “Auf dem Wasser zu singen”
Lied “Nacht und Träume”
Lied “Frühlingsglaube”
Lied “Auf dem Wasser zu singen”
Lied “Nacht und Träume”
Schumann
Lied “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai”
Lied “Aus mainen Tränen spriessen”
Lied “Die Rose, die Lilie”
Lied “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai”
Lied “Aus mainen Tränen spriessen”
Lied “Die Rose, die Lilie”
Spanische Romanzen des 16. Jahrhunderts
- Cavallero, si a Francia ides (Anonyme)
- A las armas, Moriscote (B. Gonçález)
- Ya se sienta el rey Ramiro (L. de Narváez)
- La mañana de Sant Joan (D. Pisador)
- Cavallero, si a Francia ides (Anonyme)
- A las armas, Moriscote (B. Gonçález)
- Ya se sienta el rey Ramiro (L. de Narváez)
- La mañana de Sant Joan (D. Pisador)
Vivaldi
duet “Laudamus te” (Gloria RV 589)
duet “Laudamus te” (Gloria RV 589)
Wagner,
“Wesendonk - Lieder”, “N.1 : Der Engel”
“Wesendonk - Lieder”, “N.1 : Der Engel”
ZEITGENÖSSISCHE MUSIK
Arlen, H.
“Over the rainbow”
“Over the rainbow”
Hundley, R.
“Strings in the earth and air”
“Come ready and see me”
“Sweet Suffolk Owl”
“Strings in the earth and air”
“Come ready and see me”
“Sweet Suffolk Owl”
Ives, Ch.
“Autumn”
“Autumn”
Pallandios, M.
“To kimmitiri” (“Der Friedhof”) [griechisch]
“To kimmitiri” (“Der Friedhof”) [griechisch]
Rich, G.
“American Lullaby”
“American Lullaby”
Sartoro, Cl.
“Luar de meu bem”
“Luar de meu bem”
Vaughan – Williams, R.
“Orpheus with his lute”
“Orpheus with his lute”