Panagiotis (Takis) Skafidas
Soloist, Tenor
He was born in Athens in 1921. He studied at the Hellenic Conservatory of Music and Arts (1953-1957). He collaborated with several institutions including the Hellenic Radio and Television Foundation (EIRT), the Theatre of Piraeus and the National Theatre of Northern Greece, and appeared in concerts around Greece, Europe and the United States, under renowned Greek and foreign conductors. He collaborated with well-known Greek and foreign opera artists and he never turned down an invitation to participate in shows staged by Conservatories, as he was keen on assisting up and coming young artists. He was hired at the GNO in 1957, initially as a member of the chorus. As a soloist, he made his GNO debut in 1960, interpreting the role of the Duke of Mantua [Rigoletto]. During the years 1960-1075 that he collaborated with the GNO, he interpreted leading tenor roles in 25 operas in approximately 60 productions and/or revivals. Roles he interpreted include the following: the title roles in the operas Werther, Ernani and Constantine Palaeologus [Konstantinos Palaiologos], Don José (Carmen), Don Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto), Radamès (Aida), Turiddu (Cavalleria rusticana), Herman (The Queen of Spades), Rodolfo (La bohème), Renato des Grieux and Edmondo (Manon Lescaut), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Vladimir (Prince Igor), The Pretender under the name Grigoriy (Boris Godunov), Walther von der Vogelweide (Tannhäuser), Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca), Manrico (Il trovatore), Alfredo Germont (La traviata), etc. He also participated in the anniversary events for the celebration of October 28th in 1972 and March 25th in 1973. He took part in the first presentations by the GNO of the works: Lily on the Seashore [Krino st' akrogiali] by George Sklavos (1965/66), Prince Igor (1961/62) and Werther (1960/61).