Giorgos Koumendakis (born in Rethymno, 1959) is one of the most celebrated Greek
composers of the new generation. His music writing is characterised by a
variety of musical idioms and a constant quest for new directions. He took over
the artistic directorship of the Greek National Opera in February 2017 and is
now the first Artistic Director in the Company's 83-year-old history to have
been entrusted with a third consecutive term. During
his term, the Greek National Opera turned a new page in its history by
successfully relocating to and operating from its new premises at the Stavros
Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. Fulfilling his commitments, already since his first two terms, Giorgos Koumendakis aimed at enhancing GNO's artistic outreach strategy both in Greece and abroad, expanded the opera and ballet repertoires, developed partnerships and co-productions with the world's leading opera houses and festivals, created a network of collaborations and synergies with leading Greek and foreign artists, developed a full programme for the Alternative Stage, created an extended grid of learning and participation programmes, organised a series of Festivals with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, realised original synergies among different forms of art, increased the Company's proceeds from tickets, donations and sponsorships, and la unched the internet TV channel GNO TV to spread the work of the GNO across the world.Apart from his numerous pieces of symphonic and chamber music, a large part of his artistic career has been devoted to composing music for performing arts (theater, cinema, dance, opera, installations).He has composed and presented four operas, among which stands out the two-act opera murderess (2014, libretto by Yannis Svolos, based on the "social novel" of Alexandros Papadiamandis under the same title). Written upon request of the Greek National Opera, this work combines the Greek music tradition with the genre's contemporary European identity.Koumendakis' significant distinctions start in 1985, when he is chosen by György Ligeti to compose Symmolpa V. A few months later he participates in the Venice Biennale. In 1987, he cooperates for the first time with the renowned French ensemble of contemporary music Ensemble InterContemporain, and thus, sets off his gradually broader international recognition, that leads, in 1992, to Prix de Rome, an honorary scholarship, entailing a year of creative stay in the French Academy in Rome (Villa Medici).The same year begins his long-standing cooperation with choreographer-director Dimitris Papaioannou and Edafos Dance Theater, that reaches its peak with the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, for which Koumendakis served as music director, composer and author of the musical scenario.He has worked together with leading artists in the fields of theater, opera and dance, such as, among others, Karolos Koun, Stefanos Lazaridis, Yannis Houvardas, Roula Pateraki, Rallou Manou etc.He has also served as the artistic director of the musical ensemble "Nikos Skalkotas", the Kyklos Ensemble and the Rethymno Rennaissance Festival, and as the arts program manager for the Cultural Foundation of Tinos.His works have been presented throughout the world, in prestigious concert halls and lyric theaters, such as, among others: Salle Olivier Messiaen, Théâtre de l'Archevêché, Teatro La Fenice, Alte Oper, Benesse Museum in Naoshima, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing), Muziekgebouw aan't IJ (Amsterdam), Auditorio Nacional de Música (Madrird), Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (Maryland), Piccolo Teatro (Milan), Guarnerius Art Centre (Belgrade), Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Megaron-The Athens Concert Hall etc.
