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 has studied advanced music theory and trumpet and he has a degree in piano. He has studied singing with countertenor Aris Christofelis, mezzo-soprano Roza Poulimenou (Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University) and soprano and conductor Mata Katsouli in Philippos Nakas Conservatory, where he was awarded with a Diploma in Classical Solo Singing with Distinction and 1st Prize.
He has appeared as a soloist at all major theaters - Concert Halls in Greece: The Ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus Theatre, Greek National Opera (Stavros Niarchos and Alternative Stage),the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, Athens Concert hall and Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Onassis Cultural Centre, Olympia Municipal Music theatre "Maria Callas", The ancient Theater of Dodoni, The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the Old Fortress of Corfu, archaeological museums, Cathedral churches, and cities such as: Serres, Kos, Lemnos, Mytilini, Corfu, Corinth, Aegina, Elefsina, Rethymno, Mykonos, Kalamata, etc..
He has performed in International Festivals: Athens & Epidaurus Festival, All Greece is one Culture, International Classical Music Festival of Cyclades, Kournos Festival, Rethymnon Renaissance Festival, and also in Europe: Lahti International Organ Festival of Finland, Palace Music Concert Series of Estonia, Organos Santamaria of Basilica di Santa Maria of Donostia - San Sebastián, Organ Recitals 2018 at London, Junge Hunde Entrescenen Festival in Denmark, and has appeared in numerous European countries in Art Projects, recitals and Chamber Music Concerts, in Belgium, Venice, Madrid, Amsterdam, Hamburg, a.o..
He collaborates with renowned orchestras as Brussels Virtuosi and th internationally renowned flutist Marc Grauwels as well as with Estonian Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta and has collaborated with Swedish Chamber Orchestra ‘Musica Vitae’ and Estonian Baroque Ensemble ‘Floridante’. He also works regularly with the Rafi Music Theatre Company, Oros Ensemble.and Sax Quartet S.T.A.B..
Nikos Spanatis has collaborated with all major Greek orchestras: Athens State Orchestra, Camerata - Friends Of Music Orchestra, Ergon Ensemble, Cyclades Festival Chamber Orchestra, ERT National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, The Music Ensembles of the City of Athens, under the baton of Loukas Karytinos, George Petrou, Tiberiu Soare, Vassilis Christopoulos, Miltos Logiadis, William Kunhard, Stanley Richie, Nicolas Vasiliou, Michalis Economou, Andreas Tselikas, Konstantinos Terzakis, Mata Katsouli etc.
He has performed the roles of: Divine Justice ("Il Diluvio Universale" by M. Falvetti), Pouh-Bah (“The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan), French Steward ("Moby Dick" by D. Papadimitriou), Carpoforos and Messenger (“Erofili” by nikos Mamagkakis), Pope Leo IV (“The Papess Joanne” by Y. Vassilantonakis), Sorceress (“Dido and Aeneas” by Purcell), Marcellien -Twin Brother (“Le martyre de Saint Sébastien” by Cl. Debussy) Pissandro ("Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria" by Cl. Monteverdi), Seer Tiresias ("The Secret Of The Rivers Of Attica" by M. I. Alexiadis), Man and Pluto ("To Kosmoyfadi tou Ergoichou" by Mata Katsouli),Nireno (“Giulio Cesare” by Haendel), Pythie ("Le calame et la lyre" by Ev. Kokoris), and Ascanio (“Ascanio in Alba” by W. A. Mozart), Baba the Turk (“The Rake's Progress” by I. Stravinsky), Oberon (“Midsummer Night's Dream” by B. Britten) at the Greek National Opera Studio.
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 performed works of Greek composers such as Giorgos Koumendakis, Dimitris Papadimitriou, Dimitris Maragopoulos, Nikos Mamagakis, Nikos Kypourgos and has done recordings for labels MDG, IDAIA, and of Dimitris Papadimitriou’s "Aesop's fables". He has collaborated and been sponsored by TV5MONDE francophone international channel and Tricolore News.
Nikos Spanatis has received warm reviews from Greek and international Press, such as, "...his velvet, hedonically dark-colored voice enchantingly conversed with the flute of Marc Grauwels..." (The Journalists' Daily), "...Nikos Spanatis has a crystal countertenor voice, which he handles with flexibility, power and wide shades". (ESS, Finland), among others.
With the valuable support of the musicologist and researcher Mr. Thomas Tamvakos (Archive of Greek Composers) in musical material, he made recordings with the organist Christina Antoniadou at the Anglican Church of St. Paul for the album entitled "Wade in de water" in works by. G. G. Agadolidos, G. G. Photon, P. Theodosiou, M. Sofianopoulos, Prince I. Karatzas, K. K(H)arikiopoulos, M. Sofianopoulos.
With the organist Eleni Keventsidou he recorded in London for Ravensbury Records the album "The Greek Melos" with works by L. Viadana, P. Humfrey, A. Grandi, J. S. Bach, D. Buxtehude, Arvo Pärt, M. Reger, Giorgos Koumentakis (Fonissa). The album is being completed and will be presented soon.
Nikos Spanatis has received warm reviews from Greek and international Press, such as, "...his velvet, hedonically dark-colored voice enchantingly conversed with the flute of Marc Grauwels..." (The Journalists' Daily), "...Nikos Spanatis has a crystal countertenor voice, which he handles with flexibility, power and wide shades". (ESS, Finland), among others.
He is an Instructor of Singing Teacher at the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina, and serves as the Artistic Director and Professor of Singing Teacher and Postgraduate Vocal Studies at the National Conservatory of Ymittos.
Official Website: https://www.nikosspanatis.com/el/