Theodora
Raftis is a promising coloratura soprano from Cyprus. She has won
numerous awards, most notably 3rd Prize in the Cesti International
Singing Competition for Baroque Opera 2019, 3rd Prize in the Otto
Edelmann International Singing Competition 2019 and 2nd Prize in the
József Simándy International Singing Competition 2016. She has also
been awarded with scholarships from the A. G. Leventis Foundation and
Joseph Weingarten Memorial Trust.
In addition to her current vocal coach Claudia Visca, Theodora has also
received coachings from Natalie Dessay, Teodor Currentzis, Éva Marton,
Júlia Hamari, Michael Schade, Sumi Jo, Barbara Bonney and Felicity
Lott.
While a student at Vienna’s
University of Music & Performing Arts, Theodora made her debut in
some of the world’s most prestigious venues such as Musikverein
(Vienna), Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna), Philharmonie de Paris (Paris),
Cuvilliés Theatre (Munich), Liszt Academy’s Grand Hall (Budapest), Müpa
(Budapest), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City) and Shanghai Symphony
Hall (Shanghai). She will make additional debuts in upcoming seasons in
Megaron Concert Hall (Athens), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and
Segerstrom Centre for the Arts (Costa Mesa).Her engagements include
several international concert tours in China, USA, Mexico and
Argentina, while she has made European appearances in the Innsbruck
Festival of Early Music, Leipzig Bachfest, Budapest Spring Festival and
London Festival of Baroque Music.
Theodora has sung alongside several
acclaimed artists such as Andreas Scholl, and will soon collaborate
with renowned conductor Jordi Savall.
Her operatic repertoire includes portrayals of Atamira (L’empio
punito), Cino (Il teuzzone), Ermione (Oreste), Ilia (Idomeneo),
Blondchen (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Susanna (Le Nozze di
Figaro), Mademoiselle Silberklang (Der Schauspieldirektor), Tonina
(Prima la musica e poi le parole), Despina (Così fan tutte), Servilia
(La Clemenza di Tito), Olympia (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), Greta
Fiorentino (Street Scene) and Blanche de la Force (Dialogues des
Carmélites).
As
a concert soloist, her engagements include Bach's Magnificat
(BWV243), St. Matthew Passion (BWV244), B minor Mass (BWV232) and
several cantatas. Also, Händel's Messiah (HWV56/1) and Theodora
(HWV68); Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate(K165/158a), Coronation Mass in C
major (K317) and Requiem in D minor (K626), as well as Haydn's Die
Jahreszeiten, Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G major (D167), Fauré's Requiem,
Orff's Carmina Burana and Britten's Les Illuminations.
Whereas the versatility of her voice allows her to expand her
repertoire to musical theatre engagements, which include songs from The
Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, A Little Night
Music, Sweeney Todd, Whistle Down the Wind, Tell Me on a Sunday, and
many more.
Recent engagemnts included: Bach's Magnificat and Weinachtoratorium at the Musikverein in Wien; Ariadne auf Naxos at the Schonbrunn Schlosstheater; Bach's Cantatas at the Mupa in Budapest; Orfeo ed Euridice in Cagliari; a series of Baroque concerts in Vienna, in Milan and Turin for the Mito Settembre Musica Festival.
Plans include Bonnoncini's Astarto in Innsbruck; Il Matrimonio Segreto in Potsdam; Bach's B minor mass and Cantatas in Vienna at the Wiener Akademie.
May 2022