Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Greece

Birth

:

May, 1963 in Piraeus, Greece

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

Calliope Tsoupaki is a Greek-Dutch composer who was born on May 27, 1963, in Piraeus, Greece. She grew up in a musical family, with her father being a composer and her mother a pianist. Tsoupaki started playing the piano at a young age and later studied music theory and composition at the Athens Conservatory. In 1988, she moved to the Netherlands to continue her studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Tsoupaki's music is influenced by her Greek heritage and her interest in Byzantine music. She often incorporates elements of Greek folk music and Orthodox liturgical music into her compositions. Her music is also characterized by its use of rich harmonies and intricate rhythms. One of Tsoupaki's early works is her String Quartet No. 1, which she composed in 1991. The piece is a tribute to the Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis and features elements of Greek folk music. The quartet was well-received and helped establish Tsoupaki as a rising composer. In 1994, Tsoupaki composed her first opera, called Maria. The opera is based on the life of the Greek singer Maria Callas and explores themes of love, fame, and betrayal. The opera was performed in Amsterdam and received positive reviews. Tsoupaki's music continued to gain recognition in the following years. In 1997, she was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for Dutch composers. The prize was awarded for her work Tragoedia, which is a piece for orchestra and choir inspired by Greek tragedy. In 2001, Tsoupaki composed her second opera, called Faust. The opera is based on the classic story of Faust and features a libretto by the Dutch writer Gerrit Komrij. The opera was performed in Amsterdam and was praised for its innovative use of technology and multimedia. Tsoupaki's music has been performed by many renowned orchestras and ensembles, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. She has also collaborated with many other artists, including the choreographer Hans van Manen and the visual artist Krijn de Koning. In recent years, Tsoupaki has continued to compose new works and has explored new forms of music. In 2018, she composed a piece called Oidípous, which is a retelling of the story of Oedipus in the form of a song cycle. The piece features a libretto by the Dutch writer Pieter van de Woestijne and was performed by the Nederlands Kamerkoor. Tsoupaki's music has been praised for its emotional depth and its ability to connect with audiences. Her music often explores themes of identity, memory, and spirituality, and is characterized by its use of rich harmonies and intricate rhythms. She is considered one of the most important composers of her generation and has had a significant impact on the contemporary classical music scene.

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