You buzzed about it on our Facebook page, and several readers contacted us to learn more about the 'beautiful voice' who sang Greece's national anthem during the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympic Games.
DailyFrappe is happy to announce that we had the opportunity to touch base with this great Greek Canadian talent, who shared with us a little bit about herself and her performance that evening.
DF: Ariana, were you born and raised in Canada? If so, what part?
A: I was born in Toronto, Canada and for short time my family lived in Athens, between 1984-1987. I was in Montreal for 3 years while apprenticing with L'Opera de Montreal. and for the past 5 years, I've been in New York - when I'm not travelling!! Home is a suitcase sometimes!!
DF: What part of Greece/Cyprus is your family descended from?
A: My mother is from Corfu where I will be singing this summer with the Mantzaros Philharmonic.
I just did a concert with them for their 119th anniversary which is so apt because Nikolaos Mantzaros was the composer of the Greek National Anthem and from Corfu too!!! My father is from beautiful Aigio.
DF: Are you involved with the Greek community at all in Canada?
A: My first time in Vancouver was for my invited audition for the Olympics! I absolutely LOVED it! My family is in Toronto and we are VERY involved in the Greek Community! It feels like my mom is a part of almost every syllogo!! She was so proud! and the emails came pouring in from so many of the Greek Community in Toronto, and around the world!
My mother and sister and I were all volunteers in Athens for the 2004 Summer Olymics so we definitely have the spirit!
DF: When did you begin your singing career?
A: I always loved to sing. It led me to a degree in Music at the University of Toronto and then I was hired straight out of school to tour as Carmen with the Atelier Lyrique de L'Opera de Montreal. I sang it over 50 times!
Those were my first really professional years. Since then, I've sung all over the world!
DF: How were you approached to sing the national anthem of Greece for the closing ceremonies?
A: I guess my name was sort of buzzing around and I received an email with two questions: Are you Canadian? Do you speak Greek? Then I did a recorded audition of the Anthem, then a live audition for David Atkins who was the Executive Producer for the ceremonies, and that was it!
DF: What were your sentiments/emotions walking up on that stage in front of the world right before your performance?
A: So many emotions! Firstly, I was so happy! Sure, nervous (it is only billions, right?), but mostly happy! My dress was custom made for me by the renowned design duo DSquared2 and I was so pleased that it was definitely Greek inspired. I heard my name as I was walking out and I noticed all those flashes! Like glittering diamonds. And I thought: "They're taking my picture and they don't even know me!!" That was when it sort of hit me that this was bigger than me.
I sang and I thought of Greece. I really did! Like they were going to see it at 3am or something and how proud I was to be there.
Click here to hear Ariana's performance (Amateur video from Youtube.com)
DF: No matter how many times you hear it, the national anthem chokes you up; as you sang the last note of the anthem and saw that flag waving in front of you what was going through your mind?
A: It was amazing. You know, I've been singing that anthem since I was born!!! My mom teaches greek school here in Toronto and I did all 13 (gulp!) grades every Saturday!
I've sung it for school and small events, and eventually as a professional I've been honored to sing it for assemblies and consulates and then this... at least I was prepared! I was very emotional! and like I said... happy! It was a dream come true!
I'm so glad our anthem and Greece is such a part of the Olympics and that people all around the world hear it each time we have those ceremonies!
DF: What are your plans for your singing career in the future?
A: Plans! So hard to plan! After this, I'm doing a song cycle called Sappho de Mytilene in Toronto. These songs were written for me by a Greek-Canadian composer Constantine Caravassilis. The pieces have won the 2009 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music.
Then I head to Poland to sing the role of Componist in Richard Strauss's opera, Ariadne auf Naxos. I sang the Polish premiere in November and the production continues into 2010.
I love singing opera and concerts and I'm so lucky to be able to do that and travel around the world discovering new places and revisiting favourites! The future, well, actually, I'd love to sing in Greece! January this year was the first time I ever sang there professionally!
It would really be a dream to sing at Herodion or Megaro. And my mom would pretty much keel over if she saw me on greek tv! That's all she watches! So, if any one out there is reading this....!!!
In closing, I just want to thank you for reaching out to me and including me in DailyFrappe. This Olympic experience has been an honor and a privilege for me not only as a singer but as a "Greek kid". I'm glad my first interview is for my fellow greeks of the diaspora! Thank you so much!
DF: NO thank YOU Ariana. For more information and updates about Ariana please visit: www.arianachris.com
Born in Canada of Greek-Canadian heritage, Ariana Chris (née Ariadni Christodoulopoulos) is praised by the press for her “beautifully burnished mezzo-soprano voice".
Ariana Chris continues to delight audiences nationally and abroad with her vocal artistry and engaging stage presence. Among the opera companies with which she has performed are Opera Hong Kong, Opera de Montreal, Anger’s Nantes Opera France, New York City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera.
posted on Thursday, March 4