(Photo credit: GNO)

Mezzo-soprano Kiki Morfoniou, passed away on Dec. 18.

Morfoniou was born in Athens in 1936. She studied piano with Fofi Vafeiadou and singing with Irene Skepers at the National Conservatory. She graduated in 1956 and was awarded the first prize along with a certificate of excellence. She continued her studies in Milan for three years on a state scholarship, alongside conductors Antonio Tonini and Antonio Narducci.

In 1958, she was began work as a chorister at the Greek National Opera, and in 1959, she signed a permanent soloist contract. Here she performed major mezzo-soprano roles in 40 operas in 93 productions or revivals, including “Faust,” “Carmen,” “The Mother’s Ring,” “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” and more.  She participated in the Greek National Opera premieres of numerous works, such as “Dialogues des carmélites,” and “Bluebeard’s Castle.”

Morfoniou performed in many festivals including Musical July in Trapani, Sicily; Spoleto, and the Dimitria Festival in Thessaloniki. She was also a frequent soloist with the Athens State Orchestra, the Thessaloniki State Orchestra, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra, and the Brussels and Cologne Radio Orchestras. She recorded works by Greek composers, such as Kalomiris, Theodorakis, and Hadjiapostolou. In 1960, Morfoniou performed at the Epidaurus Festival next to Maria Callas, as Adalgisa in “Norma” and as Neris in “Medea” the following year.

In 1974, Morfoniou began teaching at the Athens Conservatory. She served as a member of the Greek National Opera’s Board of Directors in the 1990s.

The Greek National Opera honored Morfoniou in 2023. Giorgos Koumendakis, the Artistic Director of the GNO, presented her with an award for “her significant contribution to the art of opera, her unmatched performances, but also for her ethos, love, and devotion to the Greek National Opera.” Her final appearance was in the 2023 documentary on Maria Callas, where she discussed their historic collaboration in “Epidaurus.’

A funeral service will take place on Dec. 22.