LEONORA GAITANOU 
Performer
Program Coordinator, Vocal Studies Department of The Musical Horizons Conservatory

Praised as a “budding opera star” (Bieler Tagblatt), “the surprise of the night” (Critics Point)

mezzo-soprano Leonora Gaitanou has collaborated with acclaimed conductors and stage directors including Christoph Campestrini, Kaspar Zehnder, Graziella Contratto, Franco Trinca, Mladen Tarbuk, Dionysis Grammenos, Elias Voudouris, Andreas Tselikas, Michalis Papapetrou, Dieter Kaegi, Olivier Tambosi, Andrea Bernard, Mathias Behrends, Maria Gyparaki, Nikos Petropoulos, Marco Pelle, Stathis Livathinos and Angela Brouskou.

Most recently, Ms. Gaitanou created, directed, and performed the role of Judith in her new concept of Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle in Switzerland. With this project, which has plans to be produced again internationally, Ms. Gaitanou introduced the theme of “opera as a ceremony and healing process”. The Swiss press wrote about the performance an article entitled "Honourable Heroine" and "Judith becomes the saviour of womanhood, starting from herself and redeeming her seven ancestors. An experience and a multi-talented creature on stage!''

She has also performed the roles of Wellgunde in Wagner’s Das Rheingold, Marquesa in Reutter’s Die Brücke von San Luis Rey, Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Zweite Dame in Mozart’s die Zauberflöte, Voix 2 in Janáček’s Šárka, Zelatrice and Abbess in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Zulma in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, Frugola in Puccini’s Il Tabarro, Countess Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and in concert in Athens, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Istanbul, Vienna, Bern, Biel/Bienne, Solothurn, Winterthur, Olten, Burgdorf, and Baden. In Greece, she has also worked as an assistant director and stage manager, and as well as an actress in several important theatres including the ancient greek Epidaurus Theatre.

Born into a musical family in Athens, Greece, Ms. Gaitanou has pursued a diverse range of studies to become a highly versatile artist. Most recently, she completed a Master’s Degree cum laude in Specialized Opera Performance at the Swiss Opera Studio in the Hochschule der Künste Bern under the tutelage of renewed mezzo - soprano Tanja Ariane Baumgartner. For her studies in Bern, she was awarded scholarships from the Hochschule der Künste Bern and the Scarlatti, Ergata, Cardón, Esle V. Sick, and Stockart Foundations. Ms. Gaitanou received a Diploma of Singing with a First & Special Prize of Exceptional Performance from The Musical Horizons Conservatory under the tutelage of Christina Giannakopoulou, where she also received diplomas in piano, music theory, and cello. Following her studies at the Musical Horizons Conservatory, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Acting from the Drama School of the Athens Conservatoire and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Studies from the Theatre Studies Department of the Kapodistrian University of Athens, after which, she was a member of the Opera Studio at the Greek National Opera.

With a great interest in expanding her horizons and resources as a performer, Ms. Gaitanou continuously explores new disciplines including Butoh dance, stilt work, Alexander Technique, Aikido, Tai Chi, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Grotowski Method, Proscienes of Ancient Tragedy, yoga, and alternative healing practices.
She also belongs to the “Group of Priestesses” of the Torch Relay Ceremonies of the Olympic Flame for the Olympic Games. Since 2015, she is the youngest member of the honorary society ‘‘Friends of the Academy of Athens’’.

In 2018 she moved to Amsterdam to expand her vocal technique working with the American voice specialist Don Marrazzo with whom she continues working until today, and she has also participated in courses with Marlis Petersen, Margreet Honig, Hedwig Fassbender, Bernanda Fink, Jack Li Vigni, Susan Bullock, Susanne Resmark, Wolfgang Brendel, Daphne Evangelatos, Dimitri Kavrakos, Aris Christofelis, Dimitri Platanias, and at the Salzburg Mozarteum Summer Academy.