Renowned Cypriot mezzo-soprano Alexandra Papatziahou has passed away

The distinguished Cypriot mezzo-soprano Alexandra Papatziahou died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 76. She passed away in a hospital in France, where she had been receiving treatment for more than a month.

Alexandra Papatziahou was born in 1949 in Limassol. Her first music studies took place in her homeland; she later continued her education in Paris, at the conservatory, under renowned teachers. Early successes brought her first vocal competition prizes and international awards, including the “Toti Dal Monte” prize in Treviso and prizes at competitions in Wallonia and in Paris (UFAM).

The singer’s artistic career gained international recognition. She performed at leading festivals and stages in Europe and the United States, including La Fenice (Venice), the opera houses of Montpellier and Zurich, the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille in Paris. In the 1985–1986 season she opened the season at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and performed the role of Carmen for the first time, a role that largely defined her subsequent repertoire.

For the people of Cyprus, this marks the loss of one of the country’s most prominent lyrical performers. The singer’s legacy includes numerous operatic roles, concerts and recordings that have preserved her voice for listeners and future generations.