The voice, the oldest musical instrument, finds its most unique expression through the art of opera. In Greece—a country where speech and music have converged since antiquity—the lyric art has found exceptional interpreters who have left their mark on the stages of Europe and the world.
This virtual exhibition is a tribute to the Greek opera singers—those voices that captivated, moved, and enchanted audiences, from the grand halls of the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala of Milan to the stages of the Greek National Opera and the summer festivals of the Mediterranean.
Through photographs, performance programs, newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, and archival material, the exhibition traces the journeys, styles, artistic collaborations, and lasting legacy of great Greek vocalists, such as Maria Callas, Nikos Zachariou, Kostas Paskalis, and many others who excelled with passion, technique, and interpretive brilliance.
Timeline: From Operetta to Opera in Greece
1871 – The first operetta in Athens: A French troupe stages Jacques Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne, sparking both public enthusiasm and conservative criticism.
1886 – The first Greek operetta: Composer Pavlos Carrer writes O Konte-Spourgitis, which remains unpublished.
Early 20th century – The flourishing of Greek operetta: Theofrastos Sakellaridis becomes the most celebrated composer of the genre with works like O Vaftistikos, blending humor, romance, and social commentary. Operetta coexists with revue and light song.
1939 – Founding of the Greek National Opera (GNO) as a branch of the National Theatre. A formal transition from operetta to "high" opera begins with the systematic production of operatic repertoire.
1950s–1960s – The internationalization of the Greek voice: Maria Callas rises to global fame, while new generations of Greek opera singers come into their own.
This exhibition highlights not only the personal paths of these artists but also the collective memory of a culture that knows how to honor the voice as a source of emotion, identity, and high art.
Explore more:
Listen to audio excerpts from famous Operas by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, etc ,discover the Greek National Opera archive or explore the graphic design of theater and opera programs from the end of the 19th c onwards.
