Theodora Raftis is a promising soprano from Cyprus.

She has won numerous awards, most notably she is a Prize Winner of the Cavalli Monteverdi International Baroque Opera Singing Competition 2023, 3^rd Prize Winner of the Cesti International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera 2019, 3^rd Prize Winner of the Otto Edelmann International Singing Competition 2019 and 2^nd Prize Winner of the József Simándy International Singing Competition 2016. She has also been awarded with scholarships from the A.G. Leventis Foundation and Joseph Weingarten Memorial Trust.

While a student at the University of Music & Performing Arts Vienna, Theodora made her debut in some of the world’s most prestigious venues such as Musikverein (Vienna), Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna), Philharmonie de Paris, St John’s Smith Square (London), Cuvilliés Theatre (Munich), Liszt Academy’s Grand Hall (Budapest), Müpa (Budapest), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City) and Shanghai Symphony Hall. Additional debuts include Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Tiroler Landestheater (Innsbruck) and Oper Halle.

Her engagements include several international concert tours in China, USA and Mexico, while her European appearances include the Festival della Valle d’Itria Martina Franca, Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, Händel-Festspiele Halle, Bachfest Leipzig, Budapest Spring Festival and London Festival of Baroque Music. Theodora has sung alongside several acclaimed artists such as Andreas Scholl, whereas collaborations with renowned conductors include George Petrou, Jos van Veldhoven and Federico Maria Sardelli.

Performances cancelled due to the global pandemic include concerts with conductors Jordi Savall and Gianluca Capuano, tours of South America and USA, as well as her debuts in Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires), Megaron Concert Hall (Athens), Théâtre du Capitole (Toulouse) and Segerstrom Centre for the Arts (Costa Mesa, USA).

Her operatic repertoire includes portrayals of Atamira (L’empio punito), Sidonia (Astarto), Ermione (Oreste), Dalinda (Ariodante), Ilia (Idomeneo), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mademoiselle Silberklang (Der Schauspieldirektor), Tonina (Prima la musica e poi le parole), Despina (Così fan tutte), Servilia (La Clemenza di Tito), Carolina (Il matrimonio segretro), Olympia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Greta Fiorentino (Street Scene) and Blanche de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites).

As a concert soloist, her engagements include Bach’s Magnificat (BWV243), St. Matthew Passion (BWV244), B minor Mass (BWV232), Christmas Oratorio (BWV248) and several cantatas; Vivaldi’s Gloria (RV589) and Nulla in mundo pax sincera (RV630); Händel’s Messiah (HWV56/1) and Theodora (HWV68); as well as Mozart works such as Exsultate, jubilate (K165/158a), Coronation Mass in C major (K317) and Requiem in D minor (K626). She has also performed Haydn’s Die Jahreszeiten, Fauré’s Requiem, Orff”s Carmina Burana, Britten’s Les Illuminations, among others.

Whereas the versatility of her voice allows her to expand her repertoire to musical theatre engagements, with songs from The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Whistle Down the Wind, Tell Me on a Sunday, and many more.

Theodora graduated from the University of Music & Performing Arts Vienna with a Master’s Degree in Stage Performance (Opera & Musical Drama). In addition to her current vocal coach Claudia Visca, she has also received coachings from Natalie Dessay, Teodor Currentzis, Éva Marton, Júlia Hamari, Michael Schade, Sumi Jo, Barbara Bonney and Felicity Lott.

November 2023