Fofi Sarantopoulou
Soloist, Soprano
She was born in Athens in 1937. She studied at the National Conservatory under Maggie Karatzas and won first prize and an award for excellent performance at graduation(1963). After gaining a Maria Callas scholarship, she continued her studies at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien with Luise Scheit and Anton Dermota (oratorio, lead). She received an award at the Concours international de chant de Toulouse, performed at Toulouse’s Théâtre du Capitole and gave several recitals on French radio and television. She interpreted the Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) at Volksoper Vienna (Wiener Volksoper) and gave a recital on Austrian Radio. She interpreted the same opera in Sofia, as well as Violetta (La traviata), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) και Gilda (Rigoletto) in Bulgaria, and La traviata in Aachen. She collaborated with the Greek National Opera (GNO) during the 1967-1985 period, interpreting leading or/and basic roles, mainly of coloratura sopranos in 29 operas, in 67 productions or/and reproductions: Les pêcheurs de perles, Anna Bolena, Ariadne auf Naxos, Mother’s Ring [To Dahtylidi tis Manas], Così fan tutte, Lucia di Lammermoor, Die Fledermaus, Les contes d’Hoffmann, La traviata, La sonnambula e.a. She participated in GNO’s premieres of Die Zauberflöte, Dido and Aeneas, Il campanello, Spring’s Tale [Το anixiatiko paramythi], L'enfant et les sortilèges, Giulio Cesare in Egitto e.a. She also participated as vocal soloist in recitals of the Athens State Orchestra. She died in a traffic accident. Records are available. Recording of hers are uploaded on the Internet. // Last update of the biography: December 2015 - The list of productions below is continually updated.