Christina Poulitsi, the internationally acclaimed Greek soprano, who has appeared at iconic opera houses around the world, was a special guest performer at this year’s The Chios Festival, organised by the North Aegean Region.
Together with distinguished pianist Dimitris Giakas she gave a concert at the impressive Castelli mansion in Kampos at Chios. The opera evening revolved around famous arias once sung by Maria Callas as well as the documentary by the Greek National Opera“Mary, Marianna, Maria: The unknown Greek years of Callas”. (source in Greek)
Maria Callas and me
A native of Chios herself, Christina Poulitsihas a deep affection for her island and its people. This year marked her third appearance at the event. She studied in Germany, where she also took her first professional steps.
When Euronews met Poulitsi she was keen to talk about paying tribute to the legendary American-born Greek opera singer Maria Callas and her own journey in opera:“First of all, as Greeks we are extremely proud that Maria Callas, a giant of classical music and opera, is Greek. I believe she inspires all of us through her performances, not only musically but also through the energy she brings to her arias.”
“Unfortunately I never had the chance to see her live, but even through her recordings you can grasp how unique she was. Whenever I sing arias, and especially Italian bel canto, I always go back to her and draw inspiration from her interpretations. I see her as a pillar, a light that opens up a distinct and different path for each of us.”
Poulitsi has performed on all the major opera stages, winning the love and adulation of audiences around the world and, along the way, has won several prestigious awards.
“My international career started in Germany, because I studied there and took my first steps there. I have sung in almost all of Germany’s major opera houses, and then went on to perform across Europe, America, Asia and Oceania. It is a great joy to discover different worlds, to work with conductors and theatres with whom you are compatible and with whom you can make music at the highest level.”
“I was fortunate to have Zubin Mehta as my mentor, a legend in the world of opera. He was the one who wrote a letter of recommendation for me and essentially launched my career. He wanted to keep track of my progress while I was still a student and, when he felt I had reached the right level, he offered me our first collaboration, as Gilda in Florence with him. One thing led to another after that. We gave a great many concerts together. I was invited several times to Israel, to Tel Aviv, and it was there that I met Gianandrea Noseda.”
“I have a great love for Germany, because it is the country where I first made a name for myself and began my career. But of course I also have a profound love for Greece. It is my country. I really enjoy singing here. I have a very special relationship with the Greek audience and I love coming back again and again. Today, thanks to this concert, I feel deeply moved to be singing in my home place, because I come from Chios.”
What is it that attracts her to venues that are not conventionally associated with opera? How does she feel about singing on smaller stages?
“This is the third year I have sung at The Chios Festival, organised by the North Aegean Region. They are doing a really excellent job. It is a week packed with lectures, documentaries, performances and events that cover a huge range of fields such as medicine, history, art, you name it. I really enjoy singing in spaces that are not strictly linked to the usual concert and recital halls. I love performing in nature. Of course the conditions are very demanding, no question, but the energy is always different.”
“These places win you over and give you a completely new sensation. Here we are in a Genoese medieval tower in Kampos, Chios, where all the traditional features are preserved: the orchards, the architecture, the unique building style, the waterwheel well. Here in this magnificent garden, with Chios’ fragrant mandarins and lemons, the feeling is unique. It gives you inspiration to carry on into the future.”
A mother of two young children, the Greek soprano is trying to strike a balance between family life and the demands of the international career she has built over the years. At the moment she is trying to spend more time in Greece with her children and to avoid large-scale opera productions. Her schedule for the new season is packed:
“Right after Chios we start rehearsals for a new Greek opera to be staged in Athens, called ‘Theodora, Empress of Byzantium’. It is the new work by Theodoros Stathis, directed by Panos Angelopoulos. The emblematic figure from Byzantine history will come to life on the stage of the Municipal Music Theatre Olympia ‘Maria Callas’ on 30 September and 1 October.
“After that I have a recital in Athens again, at Parnassos Hall. Then we go with Plácido Domingo to Malaysia. In December I will appear at the Athens Concert Hall and give two solo recitals at the Athens Conservatoire. Then there is another recital with Plácido Domingo. This is followed by a recital with the American tenor John Osborn in Thessaloniki. I am really looking forward to it, because we have worked together before and we have great chemistry. And I finish the season with a recital in Switzerland.”
This year marked the fifth edition of The Chios Festival, which ran for ten days. The festival’s rich programme once again left a strong mark on the island. It included performances, concerts, screenings, talks, exhibitions, side events and tribute evenings. Leading figures from science, culture, the arts, history and shipping attended the event, which is held under the auspices of the UNESCO Hellenic National Commission and the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
The festival’s artistic director, Dimitra Moutzouri, tells Euronews: “We have managed to create a multi-faceted festival. I think the word ‘festival’ does not quite do it justice. It is a blend of conference, artistic events and exhibitions. What we are trying to do is to showcase the cultural identity of Chios, to promote artists from the island and, at the same time and above all, to bring leading figures to Chios.”
“We want to make the island a cultural focal point for Greece every September. And we believe that, to some extent, we have achieved this. It is a festival that evolves step by step, year after year. We do not set specific targets; we simply try to improve every year. We will continue in the same way in the years to come, always aiming for what is best for Chios and its people.”