REVIEWS
„...a special kind of pleasure, also because Vassilis Christopoulos animates the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra to iridescent, ethereal playing, and not only in this magical moment.“
...writes Jürgen Otten from OPERNWELT about the premiere of Les Troyens on 18 January 2025
„Chief conductor Vassilis Christopoulos elicited atmospheric richness of colour as well as expressive dynamics from the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra“
...writes the Kleine Zeitung about the two-part ballet evening ‘Sacre!’ at Graz Opera on 26 October 2024
„For example, the musical performance of the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of chief conductor Vassilis Christopoulos was an absolute highlight of the evening. Instead of simply playing Wagner's work with bombastic force, the conductor opted for a subtle interpretation that impressed with its fine nuances and precise dynamics. The delicate, almost chamber music-like transparency, which brought out the subtle nuances of the score, is particularly noteworthy.“
...writes Bachtrack about the premiere of Richard Wagner's ‘Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg’ at Graz Opera on 5 October 2024
„Excitement came from the orchestra pit, where Vassilis Christopoulos prepared a musical feast with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra (especially the excellent wind players).“
„By no means gaudy, carefully balanced, with subtle pianos, fine lyricism and dark colours, the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra was heard under the new chief conductor Vassilis Christopoulos at his operatic debut.“
Helmut Christian Mayer (Kurier) on the premiere of Verdi's ‘Macbeth’ at Graz Opera on 25 November 2023
„The orchestra and its new chief conductor Vassilis Christopoulos were euphorically celebrated by the audience with applause that was remarkably long by Graz standards, which is hardly surprising: the evening was a successful start to a new season and era that has aroused curiosity about the projects of the coming months.“
...writes Bachtrack about the opening concert ‘Auftakt’ on 23 September 2023
…the experienced [conductor] Vassilis Christopoulos performed a miracle, drawing a transparent and clear, finely carved and well balanced sound from the musicians of the Greek National Opera…"
Yiannis Svolos ecstatic review about GNO’s double bill with Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in efsyn.gr (in Greek).
"...I've been following the Athens State Orchestra since 1968 and I don't think I've ever heard them play at this level before: as an orchestra of international calibre... Not a single musical bar was meaningless or imperfect..."
Lavish praise from Giorgos Sarigiannis, one of Greece's most respected music and theater critics, about Bruckner's Symphony no. 8 in his blog (in Greek).
”Another reason for the production’s success was the superb playing of the GNO’s orchestra under one of Greece’s top conductors, Vassilis Christopoulos, who is based mostly in Germany and who had also worked wonders here a year ago in Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. We heard superbly subtle and nuanced playing that highlighted the rare yet very present lyricism in Berg’s score, while holding nothing back in the explosive crescendo in the climax of the drama.”
Opera Now (Original link seems to have expired)
...behind Wozzeck's success at the Greek National Opera was Vassilis Christopoulos, "who combined glittering detail, rich post-romanticism and translucent textures to hypnotic effect, while always making the music’s savage power rumble below the surface"
according to James Imam at the Financial Times - PDF
"Christopoulos proves to be an attentive singer accompanist and a relaxed yet compelling storyteller [...] this is a victorious Shostakovich as he sings and murders – without a single blind spot".
Read more on Manuel Brug's blog, klassiker.welt.de, about Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District at the Greek National Opera (in German).
...of the evening was Vassilis Christopoulos' conducting, who did an exceptional job and obtained an excellent rendition [of "Elektra"] from an orchestra not accustomed to play such a demanding score. From the first bar of the opera, it was clear that he was in perfect command of the task at hand...".
Luis Gago, El País, about the opening night of the Greek National Opera in their new venue with "Elektra" by Richard Strauss (in Spanish). PDF
Raving critique about "Die Frau ohne Schatten" in Wiesbaden (in German).
Gerhard Hofmann - Der neue Merker - Screenshot
An enthusiastic review of the opening concert of the RheinVokal Festival (in German).
Angela Baumeier - Rhein Zeitung - Screenshot