Liliana Osses Adams

In Memoriam
George Pappas at Roudaki Hall

Sad news reaches us! George Pappas passed away on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the age of 74. He was one of the most esteemed Greek operatic and concert bass soloists, born on July 25, 1938, in the town of Ägion (Aigio) on the Corinthian Gulf. He began his early training as an opera singer in Athens, and later on he studied voice with the highly respected Elisabeth Radó at the Vienna Academy of Music. He made his operatic début at the Municipal Theatre in Lucerne. Since 1959, he was on the rosters of the regional theatres of Münster, Basel and Lübeck. In 1965, he became cast member at Deutsche Oper am Rhein (in Dusseldorf and Duisburg), and at Nuremberg. Awarded prizes at the international singing competitions at Verviers and Genève (1962), Toulouse and Parma (1967), he established himself as guest singer at the opera houses in Cologne, Genève, Toulouse, Vienna, Munich, Marseille, and Lyon. His repertory included basso parts from operas by Mozart, Verdi to Wagner. He recorded the one act opera by R. Strauss “Feuersnot”. In 1988 he sang the role of Créon in the American production of “Medea” by Cherubini at Boston Opera House in Massachusetts. He was admired for the richness and power of his voice. Apart from opera assignments, he was a successful concert soloist appearing in leading performance venues in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Soviet Union, Italy, France, and Spain in works by Mozart, Verdi, Beethoven, Bach, and Haendel.
In 1968, he was invited to Tehran Opera House to join the cast at Roudaki Hall productions of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” and Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”.
In Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte”, he sang the role of Sarastro in production of Enayat Rezai with Tehran Symphony Orchestra led by Heshmat Sanjari, in scenery designed by Teo Lau.

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(Die Zauberflöte by Mozart, Tehran Opera House Roudaki Hall, 1968
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams, private collection)


In Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”, he sang the role of Ferrando, opposite Hossein Sarshar as Count de Luna and Soudabeh Tadjbakhsh as Azucena, staged by Enayat Rezai with Tehran Symphony Orchestra conducted by Heinz Sosnitza, and in scenery designed by Teo Lau.

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(Il Trovatore by Verdi, Tehran Opera House Roudaki Hall, 1968
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams, private collection)

During 1972-73 artistic season, George Pappas returned to Roudaki Hall for three performances of Gounod’s “Faust”, dates: February 6, 10, and 17, 1973.

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(George Pappas at Roudaki Hall, 1973)


In Gounod’s “Faust”, he sang the role of Mephisto, opposite Jean Dupouy as Faust, complimented by Iranian singers of Alenush Melkonian as Margaret, Hila Gharakhanian as Siebel, Enayat Rezai as Valentin, Leonor Hajari as Marthe, and Sarkis Ghukassian as Wagner, in stage direction by Karlheinz Haberland with newly completed Tehran Opera Orchestra conducted by Jon Popper, and in scenery and costiumes designed by Theo (Teo) Lau and Helen Ensha.
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 (Faust by Gounod, Tehran Opera House Roudaki Hall, 1973
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams)

On February 21, 1973, Roudaki Hall presented a special performance of Gounod’s “Faust” for the Shah and Empress Farah. The great Cesare Siepi made his guest appearance as Mephisto.

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(Cesare Siepi at Roudaki Hall, 1973)
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(Program for Gounod’s Faust, Roudaki Hall Tehran Opera House, 1973
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams)

The “Faust” special performance on February 21, 1973, was led by Gianluigi Gelmetti, directed by Karl Heinz Haberland with opera choir under Vincenzo Giannini, in scenery and costumes designed by Theo Lau and Helen Ensha. The cast included: Cesare Siepi as Mephisto, Jon Piso as Faust, joined by Iranian singers: Alenush Melkonian as Marguerite, Dan Serbac as Valentin, Hilla (Hila) Gharakhhanian as Siebel, and Leonor Hajari as Marthe.

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(Gounod’s Faust Special Performance, Roudaki Hall Tehran Opera House, 1973
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams)

During 1976-77 artistic season, George Pappas was again invited to Roudaki Hall for a performance of Mephisto in Gounod’s “Faust”, opposite Jean Dupouy as Faust, complimented by Iranian singers: Alenush Malkonian (Aghayan) as Marguerite, Steven Kimbrough as Valentin, Sonja Karapet as Marthe, Elfriede Picha (Ameri) as Siebel, and Sarkis Ghoukassian as Wagner. Roudaki’s musical director, Alun Francis was at the pit for two performances (dates: November 3 and 6, 1976), in stage production by James Conrad, Roudaki’s executive director and with scenery and costumes designed by Theo Lau and Helen Ensha (Mozaffar Zanganeh). Michael Goodwinn conducted the opera choir.
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(Program and cast for Gounod’s Faust, Roudaki Hall Tehran Opera House, 1976
Courtesy Liliana Osses Adams)

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He graced the stage with the resounding beauty of his voice.
Farewell Giorgio. Repose In Peace.

© Liliana Osses Adams
California, December 10, 2012

Listen to George Pappas in the Verdi requiem