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Sotos Vassiliadis

Composer, Director
Born in Thessaloniki on 5 April 1905. He began violin lessons and basic theory at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki (1920). From 1929 he studied fugue, orchestration and composition at the National Conservatory of Athens under Kalomiris. Later he attended seminars in orchestral conducting, chamber music and opera in Austria, France and Italy. Returning to Greece, he organized and directed the Annex of the National Conservatory in Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki, he taught violin and music theory, he founded and directed the Mixed Choir of Thessaloniki and Railway Men’s Choir, directed and taught Greek and foreign operas (Markos Botsaris, Perouze, Aida) and oratorios Die Jahreszeiten, Christus am Ölberge, Requiem (Mozart), etc. (1930-1939). In 1941 he joined the newly formed Opera. From 1941 to 1944 he directed Il barbiere di Siviglia, Eine Nacht in Venedig, Tosca (1942, with Maria Callas), Lucia di Lammermoor . He was Chairman of the Artistic Committee of the Greek National Opera (1988-1990). He was also active on Cyprus (1948-1950), where, as director of the Lyceum Conservatory he founded and directed choirs in many concerts. He was also director of polyphonic dance in the Church of Aghia Sophia in Thessaloniki and set to music numerous religious works. In his compositions he reveals the connection between ancient, Byzantine and folk music and projects the "national" element. In 1952 he was appointed director of the National Conservatory of Thessaloniki. Subsequently, he taught at the National Conservatory of Athens and founded and directed many choirs. For his compositions and his contribution to music he was repeatedly awarded in Greece and abroad. He died in Athens on 30/11/1990. // Last update of the biography: March 2019 - The list of the productions is continually updated.