Irma Kolassi Greek opera singer Country: Greece

Biography of Irma Kolassi

Irma Kolassi was a Greek opera singer who achieved great success in her career. She was born in Athens, Greece, but her family moved to Paris, France, a few months after her birth. Kolassi was educated in French and received her first music lessons from her violinist uncle, who had studied with George Enesco. At the age of 8, she returned to Athens, where her musical education was taken over by her grandmother. Under her grandmother's guidance, Kolassi began learning to play the piano and later received further lessons at the Athens Conservatory.

At the age of 14, Kolassi won her first prize in a conservatory competition, impressively performing Maurice Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit." It was during this time that she had the opportunity to meet Dimitri Mitropoulos, who recognized her untapped potential. Before leaving Greece, Mitropoulos recommended Kolassi to renowned soprano Maggie Karadja. She joined Karadja's vocal class and impressed her with her performance of Paolo Tosti's song. Karadja agreed to teach Kolassi, and under her guidance, Kolassi's natural talent was polished to perfection. Although she continued to play the piano, it was evident that her singing career was advancing more rapidly.

In 1938, Kolassi traveled to Rome, Italy, using her own funds to continue her vocal and piano studies. However, World War II forced her to return to Athens, where she performed on stage for a period of time. Unfortunately, Kolassi found that her stage career did not satisfy her completely, leading her to make the decision to focus on teaching.

As a teacher, Kolassi achieved impressive results, and in 1944, she had the opportunity to advise Maria Callas herself. After a few challenging years, Kolassi returned to France, and her career began to flourish. She collaborated with renowned musicians of her time, such as van Beinum, Hans Rosbaud, Pierre Monteux, and Charles Munch. Kolassi continued to teach, and her masterclasses became popular in Europe and Japan.