John Modinos


John Modinos was a Cypriot opera baritone.

Life and career

In 1927, John Modinos was born in Omodos, a small village in the Troodos Mountains. He had a career that spanned over four decades. His illustrious career in music started in New York after winning "The American Theater Wing Concert Award" with which he made his Recital debut in New York' s Town Hall that had tremendous reviews. His operatic debut was also in New York in Traviata with Beverly Sills. Another singing Award "The American Opera Auditions" brought him to Europe, performing Figaro in Barber of Seville in Milano with sensational notices and Scarpia in Tosca in Florence, Italy with James King as Cavaradosi. The same summer, he performed at the Athens Festival with Teresa Stratas, the world Premiere of the Opera "Nausicaa". Both these events opened the way for world acclamation.
With Luciano Pavarotti he had sung many times "Rigoletto" a role that secured for Modenos worldwide fame for his interpretation and above all his brilliant singing. Accordingly, he has performed the role 223 times all over the world.
and of course with numerous other top singers and conductors, Aragal, Jess Thomas, Schwarzkopf, Seefeld, Troyanos, Moscona, Talvera, Gremdl, Edelman, Nikolaidi, Della Casa, Hilde Gueden, Zylis - Gara, Regine Crespin, Jenny Drivala etc.
Modinos died on January 11, 2011 in Athens, Greece. The cause of death was heart failure.