Tassis Christogiannopoulos, one of the leading baritones of his generation, takes the audience on a journey to worlds where opera meets the soul. With a career that juggles between the stage and the direction of “Olympia”, the artistic director of the Municipality of Athens spoke to Konstantina Varsami about his passion, memories and the big bets of his life (listen to the show here)

Raised in the magic of the Opera House, where his father was the director, Tassis still remembers his first encounter with opera: a childhood “Aida” in Herodeo. “I wanted to free the captives,” he said, proving from a young age that art moved him beyond the obvious.

His voice, initially weak, developed into an instrument of global reach, thanks to the persistence and guidance of people like Manos Hadjidakis. He was the first to recognize the depth of his voice and opened the way, when the then young Tassis dared to talk to him about his music.

“The stage is sacred,” he says, “a place where body, emotion and soul become one.” You see it in the energy he exudes, both in his performances and in his work as a director. Although the “little boy” was never for him, he knows well how to fill the space with his presence – and bring the audience closer to the magic of opera.

Christogiannopoulos does not hesitate to talk about the spirituality that inspired him in dark moments. A phone call from a Metropolitan of his childhood was the spark that changed his outlook on life. Since then, his relationship with the Church has been harmoniously combined with the power of art, creating a unique composition.

The Greek baritone with an international career continues to inspire with his dedication to music and his vision for opera – a world where emotion knows no bounds.