Tassis Christoyannis

Tassis Christoyannis studied at the Athens Conservatory under multiple disciplines before pursuing vocal training with legendary pedagogue Aldo Protti. His operatic career developed from the Greek National Opera through leadership roles at Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, performing the full range of Italian baritone roles from Mozart through Verdi. Renowned equally for his interpretations of French mélodie in collaboration with pianist Jeff Cohen on multiple recordings, Christoyannis has become a fixture at major European opera houses. Christoyannis was born in 1967 in Athens, growing up in a musical environment where he began piano lessons at age nine. At 17, he entered the Athens Conservatory, where he pursued comprehensive musical training encompassing piano, singing, conducting, and composition. His early instruction positioned him within Greek classical traditions while maintaining broad musical perspectives across multiple disciplines. In 1993, Christoyannis traveled to Cremona, Italy, to study Italian repertoire under Protti. In 1994, he won the Aldo Protti Gold Medal, recognizing his achievement as a student and confirming his capabilities. Between 1995 and 1999, Christoyannis served as a member of the Greek National Opera, where he performed an expansive range of baritone roles. He sang Belcore in L'elisir d'amore, Don Carlos in Ernani, and the title role in Eugene Onegin. Beginning in 2000, Christoyannis joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany, as a principal baritone. His operatic repertoire included Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, the Conte in Le nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni. In 2005 and 2006, Christoyannis performed at the Staatsoper Berlin, Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, and other venues. Guest performances at Düsseldorf, Montpellier, and Budapest demonstrated his growing international reputation. Beyond operatic roles, Christoyannis developed a significant career in French mélodie performance. Beginning in the early 2000s, he collaborated extensively with American pianist Cohen to record complete song cycles and collections by 19th century composers. These recordings, issued on the Palazzetto Bru Zane and Aparté labels, include complete songs by Édouard Lalo, Benjamin Godard, and Fernand de La Tombelle. In 2024, he performed the title role in Rachmaninov's Aleko at the Greek National Opera, and as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with the Berlin Philharmonic at Baden-Baden and Berlin concert halls in 2025. That year, Christoyannis performed the title role of Mazeppa in Clémence de Grandval's five-act opera at Munich's Prinzregententheater with the Munich Radio Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Choir under conductor Mihhail Gerts. ~ Prince Iwundu, Rovi