Manolis Kalomiris
Born December 14, 1883, Manolis Kalomiris' activities as composer, author, teacher, critic and manager shaped Greek musical life to a considerable extent during the first half of the 20th century.
He started his musical education in Athens and Constantinople and completed it in Vienna between 1901 and 1906. After spending four years as a piano teacher in Kharkov, in what is today the Ukraine and was then part of Imperial Russia, he settled permanently in Athens, in 1910. He founded two of the most important Conservatories in Greece as well as the Union of Greek Composers, he served for a time as director of the National Opera and in 1945 he was the first musician to be elected member of the Athens Academy.
His Music
He has written approximately 220 works including 3 symphonies and 5 operas.
His 5 operas are:
- O Protomastoras (The Masterbuilder) (1912)
- Mother's Ring (1917)
- Shadowy Waters (1948)
- Dawn (1952)
- Konstandinos Palaiologos (1962)
He founded and directed the Hellenic Conservatory and later the National Conservatory (not the Athens Conservatory, which is a distinct institution).
He was elected a member of the Academy of Athens.