Don Giovanni- Perikles Talantopoulos

Aria: Dalla sua pace
W.A. Mozart
Perikles Talantopoulos was born in Thessaloniki in 1935. He started his singing lessons at a very young age at the local State Conservatory an graduated with too marks,awarded unanimously by his examiners, in 1962.
his tutors were two famous opera artists that had distinguished themselves on the European stage: soprano Fani Aidai and tenor Konstantinos Liondas. At the age of just 18, Talantopoylos made his very first pyblic appearance,among eminent artists of the National Opera, by singing the tenor part in one of Johann Sebastian Bach's cantaras. In 1963 Talantopoulos continued his studies at the well-known Mozarteum in Augsburg an then,on a GErman State Scholarship, he completeed his sudies at the famous Munich Music Academy, under known professors Blaske, Arnold and Titos Xirellis. His first professional stage appearance was at the beautiful REgenburg Theater, with a wonderful interpretation of Turiddu,in ''Cavalleria Rusticana'';all critics praised the fine metal and colour of his voice. That was the starting point of a wonderful career during wich Talantopoulos had the opportunity to appear in numerous theaters in GErmany, Austria and Switzerland; he distinguished himself in operas, operettas and musicals while he also gave concerts and sang for televisin programmes through wich he never missed the opportunity to promote Greek songs. In 1988 he was invited to play leadind roles with the National Opera in such works as: ''the Merry Widow'',''The Magic Flute'',''Don Giovanni'' and ''Cavalleria Rusticana''. His artistic presence in Thessaloniki has been equally interesting and successful.His rich,melodious and expressive voice has that rare quality of a lyric-dramatic tenor. An imposing presence, steady high notes musicality and mezza vocce - something difficult to findallowed him to distinguish himself in a remarkable and difficult repetory ('' Tha Magic Flute'', ''Don Giovanni'', ''The abduction from the Seraglio'', ''Rigoletto'', ''La Boheme'', ''Madame Butterfly '', ''Cavalleria Rusticana'', ''Fra Diavolo'', ''Jenufa'', ''The Merry Widow'', ''Beggar Student'', etc.). His correct and clear recitativo gave him the privilege of lucidly delivering librettos.Perikles Talantopoulos is worthy of the long belcanto tradition of Thessaloniki he is continuing, which made this city famous internationally.
-George Kousouris
Munich, Oktober 1997