Maria palaska
Maria Palaska is a lyric soprano with an "enchanting voice colour" and "psychologically sensitive interpretation" (der neue Merker). She frequently performs at opera stages and concert halls in Germany, Greece, Austria, Italy, Spain. The versatile Greek soprano enjoys a wide repertory ranging from Monteverdi, Händel, Mozart to Bellini, Donizetti, Strauss and extending to contemporary composers such as Manfred Trojahn, Wolfgang Rihm and Jonathan Dove.
Maria recently collaborated with the Greek National Opera as Lisa at La Sonnambula under Marco Arturo Marellis stage direction - a co production with the Staatsoper Wien. At the Alternative Stage Festival Sacred Music days, she performed demanding works of Sir John Tavener under the direction of Nikolaos Laaris. During the season 2018-2019 Maria had her debut as Giulietta in I Capuleti e I Montecchi von Bellini in the Historical Theatre Weissenhorn and concert performances in Germany with Repertory such as Mozarts Exsultate, Jubilate!, Jomellis Veni Creator Spiritus, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen von J.S. Bach. At the Season 2017-2018 she performed Proserpina in Monteverdis Orfeo at the Athens Megaron, Musetta and Pamina at the Greek National Opera. For La Bohème Maria worked with the director Graham Vick who was in Athens for the revival of his staging. The Magic Flutes staging of Barrie Kosky is the 2012 production of the Komische Oper Berlin which came to Athens.
The soprano is a regular guest soloist with the Armonia Atenea Orchestra, Latinitas Nostra and Sinfonia 02. Highlights include performances with the Staatsorchester Stuttgart, Rijeka State Orchestra Croatia, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Greek Radio and Television Orchestra. She collaborated with conductors such as Nicholas Kok, Philippe Auguin, Till Drömann, Markellos Chryssikos, Myron Michailidis, David Parry, Willem Wentzel, Michalis Economou, Kay Johannsen, Jörg-Hannes Hahn, Tobias Horn. On stage she has worked with stage directors such as Marco-Arturo Marelli, Tobias Ribitzki, Marcus Bothe, Paolo Micchichè, Pamela Howard, Dorotty Szalma, Barbara Tacchini, Nikos Karathanos, Thanos Papakonstantinou.
Maria Palaska initiated her musical studies at Thessaloniki Synchronon Conservatory. After winning the State Scholarship IKY for vocal Studies in Germany, she was accepted at the Opera program and Liedklasse of the State Music Academy of Stuttgart (class of Prof. Dunja Vejzovic - Diplom KA 2009 and Liedklasse of Prof. Cornelis Witthoefft - Master 2012). Her participations in Master Classes with KS Christa Ludwig, Prof. Cheryl Studer and KS Brigitte Fassbaender provided her with further musical and vocal impulses.
During her studies Maria made her soloist debut at the Opera Thessaloniki as Papagena and Blonde. After participating at the Spazio Musica Laboratorio Lirico in Orvieto Italy she was offered the role of Carolina in Cimarosa΄s Matrimonio Segreto at the Teatro Mancinelli. At the Junge Oper Stuttgart Maria appeared as Rosaura at the new production the Adventures of Pinocchio of Jonathan Dove at the Staatsoper Stuttgart and as second Nixe at NIXE/ Rusalka in Forum Ludwigsburg. She has also worked in Productions of Wilhelma Theater Stuttgart, Theater Konstanz, Oper Laubach, Opernwerkstatt am Rhein Köln a.o. Since 2015 Maria is a regular guest at the Greek National Opera and Megaron Athens. Her Erodiade in Salomé, a scenical adaptation of Alessandro Stradellas Oratorio at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, brought her recognition from public and the press. Significant roles performed on stage are, Adina l' Elisir d' amore, Frasquita Carmen, Olympia Les Contes d' Hofmann, Gretel in Hänsel and Gretel, Blonde and Konstanze in the Abduction from the Seraglio, Pamina in the Magic Flute, Maria in The Diktator, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Musetta in La Bohème.
Chamber Music and art song recitals play an important role in her artistic path with frequent invitations a.o. from the International Hugo-Wolf-Akademie, Richard-Strauss-Institut München, Musik am 13. Stuttgart, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Sofiensaal Wien. A recording of the soprano is included in the CD of the Stuttgart Music Academy "Resonanz 2010". After receiving the Richard Wagner Scholarship Maria performed together with the pianist Lisa Wellisch at the Wagner Reihe Lied matinees in Bayreuth during Wagner Year 2013. Since 2016 she performs regularly the Liebesliederwalzer & die Neue Liebeslieder von Brahms in solo quartett. In September 2018 Maria performed with the renowned lutist Lee Santana the "Mythic Ticket" a new concert program for Soprano and Lute/ Theorbo at the Athens Baroque Festival.