Obituary: Greek National Opera Director Vassilis Nikolaidis Dies at 67

By Francisco Salazar

Vassilis Nikolaidis has died at the age of 67.

Born in Athens, Nikolaidis went on to study archeology at the University of Athens and theatrology in Paris, with a specialization in opera.

He began his directing career in 1985 and started working with the Greek National Opera in 1991 at the Athens Concert Hall in 1992 and with the National Theatre in 2000. Among the operas he directed were “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “Adriana Lecouvreur,” “O vaftistikos,” “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” “Anna Bolena,” “Il Trovatore,” “Carmen,” “Nabucco,” John Gay’s “The Beggar’s Opera,” and Argyris Kounadis’s “The Return.” In addition to directing, he also served on the board of directors of the Greek National Opera.

He also had an active career in other important Greek theaters including Porta, Art Theatre, National Theatre of Northern Greece, Amore, and Thessalian Theatre, and with the Athens Festival and the Municipal Regional Theatres of various cities around Greece.

Outside of his directing career, Nikolaidis wrote a book entitled “Maria Callas: The Transformations of an Art” and worked as a producer of radio shows. He also taught acting to young singers at the Athenaeum conservatory and the Filippos Nakas Conservatory.

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