For Greek-Cypriot Australian Soprano Eftihia Kyriacou, her love of singing started with her papou.
“My grandfather Loucas Kyriacou had a beautiful voice and used to sing to myself and my sister when we were children,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“I remember myself singing throughout my childhood.
“I had a passion for Theodorakis and Hadjidakis, pop and also musical theatre.”
At 14 she joined her high school choir at Mt Waverley Secondary College and it was from there she started taking private lessons.
Within six months her voice had developed into a coloratura soprano.
“It is as that point where my teachers at the time told me to listen to recordings of the famous Greek singer Maria Callas,” Kyriacou said.
“That was the beginning of a great passion that was to grow inside of me for the art of opera.”
That passion led her to specialise in classical voice at the Australian Catholic University
On various occasions, Kyriacou has participated at Greek and Cypriot events.
She sang at the Andipodes Festival at Melba Hall in Melbourne and during a festival for Miss Cyprus in 2003.
Later she recorded the anthem “Olympiada”, lyrics by poet Loula Papazoi and music by composer George Papanicolaou, which was then broadcast worldwide at the 2004 Olympic Games ceremony.
“At the time I was very young and to be given this responsibility, trust, and opportunity at such a young age, is something that I’m truly grateful for,” she said.
During this period she also collaborated as soloist with the Greek/Spanish choir, “Canto Coro”, with whom she performed classical Spanish and Greek works in the famous Spiegel Tent for the Melbourne International Arts Festival.
She later performed at Canberra Theatre for the National Multicultural Festival.
Not long after, as soloist, she performed in a new project, “The Mass of Dissent” by composer Peter Mousaferiadis.
Kyriacou has also performed in many charity events, including a performance for the Cypriot community on Independence Day which was later broadcast live on television.
That same year, in 2007, she received a scholarship from Ahepa International which allowed her to move to Italy for further studies with soprano Patrizia Morandini.
There was no trepidation for Kyriacou, only excitement.
“I couldn’t wait to start this new chapter of my life,” she said.
“I’m a very determined person and when I make a decision I dive straight into it.”
She said the only obstacle she had was not knowing the language, but with her curious mind and passion for languages, she became fluent in Italian.
She had the opportunity to perform in various concerts and operas in Italy and Bosnia.
She took on operatic roles such as Mimi from “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini, Lola from “Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and Suor Angelica from “Suor Angelica” by Giacomo Puccini.
Through it all, Kyriacou still remains connected to her Greek heritage and culture.
She said she still loves to sing Theodorakis and Hadjidakis songs and would love to perform their repertoire in Greece and Cyprus one day.
Upon returning to Australia, she sang at the Treasury Theatre in Melbourne at a concert honouring leading Greek singer and actress Sophia Vembo.
She’s also performed the national anthem at the Greek Consulate for Greek Independence Day, followed by a concert in the presence of the Prince Nicolaos of Greece and Princess Tatiana in 2018.
She describes that as one of her most memorable experiences while one of her “greatest experiences” came in the role of Suor Angelica in Puccini’s opera “Suor Angelica” performed in Bosnia for the 400th year death anniversary of queen Catherine.
There is also much more works she has done like recording the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” for the film 25.12 by Stella Dimadis.
But despite all she has accomplished, Kyriacou doesn’t believe she’ll ever feel like she’s ‘made it’.
“Regardless of my achievements in the past and those that will present themselves in the future, I consider myself a servant of this art form,” she said.
“My purpose is to serve the great composers in my performances. Bring their music to life in my interpretations and always be generous with my audiences – to emote the audience and inspire the next generation to have an interest in this great art.”
The 2024 Couperin International Music Competition Platinum Prize winner was recently back in Melbourne, where she performed a recital with renowned pianist Elyane Laussade.
In her years of travelling to different countries, she has realised “that music is one thing that truly brings all people from all nationalities together.”
“It’s a realisation that has made me feel quite emotional at times. The power that music has in general. What it is capable of – Humanity.”
Upon reflecting on the industry in Australia, Kyriacou said it does run very similar but there is more opportunity overseas.
“We have an overwhelming number of theatres overseas and the classical music culture is much more popular,” she said.
“In Australia there are less theatres, also a smaller amount of people who go to the theatre.”
She named this as one of the reasons she furthered her studies in Italy, which is known as the home of opera.
“I do hope that one day more people in Australia will take an interest in opera and that more opportunities will be available to aspiring young singers. It is truly a special genre which offers so much.”
