Countertenor Nikos Spanatis was born in Frankfurt. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Integrated Master) and earned his PhD with distinction from the Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University, specializing in Musical Performance.
He studied advanced music theory with Meletis Karkalousos and trumpet with Giannis Karampetsos and Apostolos Kalogiannis at the Municipal Conservatory of Ano Liosia, and piano with Kostas Tourkakis at the Razi Conservatory. From the age of eight, and for eighteen consecutive years, he was an active member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Ano Liosia, performing as a trumpet player. He studied singing with countertenor Aris Christofellis and mezzo-soprano Rosa Poulimenou at the Ionian University and received his Diploma in Classical Singing with highest honors and First Prize from the Filippos Nakas Conservatory under soprano and conductor Mata Katsouli.
He has appeared as a soloist at major venues throughout Greece, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Greek National Opera, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls, the Onassis Stegi, Olympia Theatre “Maria Callas,” and many others.
Internationally, he has participated in festivals and concert series in Finland, Estonia, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
He collaborates with the Belgian chamber orchestra Brussels Virtuosi, the internationally renowned flautist Marc Grauwels, and the Estonian Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta. He has also performed with the Swedish orchestra Musica Vitae and the Estonian Baroque ensemble Floridante. In addition, he regularly collaborates with the music theatre group Rafi and the Oros Ensemble.
Spanatis has collaborated with all major Greek orchestras, including the Athens State Orchestra, Camerata – Friends of Music Orchestra, ERT National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, and others, under conductors such as Loukas Karytinos, George Petrou, Vassilis Christopoulos, and Miltos Logiadis.
His operatic roles include Divine Justice in *The Ark of Noah* by M. Falvetti, the Sorceress in *Dido and Aeneas* by Purcell, Nireno in Handel’s *Giulio Cesare*, Tiresias in *The Secret of the Rivers of Attica* by M. Alexiadis, and Oberon in Britten’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, among many others.
He has appeared numerous times as a soloist in Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, performing at venues such as Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens Concert Hall, and Old Fortress of Corfu, among others. He also became the first singer ever to perform at Tower of Queen Amalia (inaugurated in August 1854), during the celebrated Candlelight Nights events held at the residence of Queen Amalia of Greece. He appeared there during the 2022 Christmas season (15 concerts) with harpsichordist Alexis Mastichiadis and again during the 2023 Christmas season (17 concerts) with harpist Athanasia Manou.
He has recorded for labels including MDG, Idaia, and To Elliniko Schedio, and has received highly favorable reviews in both Greek and international press.
With the invaluable support of musicologist and researcher Thomas Tamvakos (Archive of Greek Composers), who provided access to rare musical material, he collaborated with organist Christina Antoniadou on a series of recordings at the Anglican Church of St. Paul for the album Wade in the Water. The recording features works by D. Agathidis, Gk. Greco, Sk. Fotinos, P. Theodosiou, M. Sofianopoulos, Prince I. Karatzas, K. (Ch.) Charikiopoulos, and M. Sofianopoulos.
Together with organist Eleni Keventsidou, he also recorded the album The Greek Melos in London for Ravensbury Records, featuring works by L. Viadana, P. Humfrey, A. Grandi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, Arvo Pärt, Max Reger, and Giorgos Koumentakis (The Murderess). The album has been completed and is scheduled for release in the near future.
He is Artistic Director and Professor of Classical Singing and Postgraduate Vocal Studies at the National Conservatory of Ymittos.