Theodora Raftis, a coloratura soprano from Cyprus, is the winner of the third prize at the prestigious International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera "Pietro Antonio Cesti", as well as having qualified among the winners of competitions such as: Otto Edelmann International Singing Competition in 2019 and József Simándy International Singing Competition in 2016.

Still a student in Vienna at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Theodora made her debuts at the Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Philharmonie de Paris, Cuvilliés Theatre (Munich), Müpa (Budapest), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City) and Shanghai Symphony Hall. She has also sung in such major musical institutions as: Megaron Concert Hall (Athens), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and Segerstrom Centre (Costa Mesa); her engagements also include tours in China, USA, Mexico and Argentina, and in Europe she has participated in the Innsbruck Festival, Leipzig Bachfest, Budapest Spring Festival of Baroque Music in London.

Theodora has performed alongside important artists such as Andreas Scholl. Her repertoire includes: 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), Blanche de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos).

Also active in the concert field, she has performed Bach's Magnificat (BWV243), St Matthew Passion, Mass in B minor (BWV232) and several cantatas as well as Handel's Messiah and Theodora (HWV68); Exsultate, jubilate (K165/158a), Mozart's Coronation Mass (K317) and Requiem (K626), Haydn's The Seasons, Mass no. 2 by Schubert (D167), Fauré's Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana, Britten's Les Illuminations.

Recent engagements include: Bach's Magnificat and Weihnachtsoratorium at the Musikverein in Vienna; Bach's Cantatas at the Müpa in Budapest with Balázs Máté; Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice (Eurydice) in Cagliari with George Petrou; Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate in Milan and Turin for the Festival Mito Settembre Musica, with Jos van Veldhoven; Bononcini's Astarto (Sidonia) in Innsbruck with Stefano Montanari; Il matrimonio segreto (Carolina) in Potsdam and a baroque concert at the Handel Festspiele in Halle with Attilio Cremonesi; the Mass in B minor and a programme of Bach Cantatas in Vienna at the Wiener Akademie and Martin Haselböck; Pugnani's Amore e Psiche with the Accademia del Santo Spirito in Turin and Ariodante (Dalinda) at the Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca under the baton of Federico Maria Sardelli.

Upcoming engagements include: baroque concerts with Les Musiciens du Prince in Milan and Lausanne conducted by  Gianluca Capuano.

Thanks to the versatility of her voice, Theodora has had forays into musicals performing 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 others. Theodora is currently specialising under the guidance of Claudia Visca, and has attended masterclasses and working sessions with Natalie Dessay, Teodor Currentzis, Éva Marton, Júlia Hamari, Michael Schade, Sumi Jo, Barbara Bonney and Felicity Lott.

August 2024