This is a marvelous effort to keep the memory alive of a superb artist who is actually much more than the footnote in most Callas biographies. Indeed and regrettably so Mandikian is mostly forgotten nowadays except to dedicated Callasiani who know Mandikian from Callas’s Greek years as it was with Mandikian that in 1940 Callas sang an extract from Norma in public for the very first time. Later they also joined forces for Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater (a photo exists). But as said there’s more to Mandikian than these footnotes. The Greek-Armenian singer studied with De Hidalgo too. Like Callas she had gained recognition outside of Greece and resettled in Athens after a successful career in Europa especially in England where her association with Britten is well-known, in fact she created the part of Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw.
This CD edition contains four CD’s. The first Cd is devoted to ‘Operatic Heroines’ which in this case means ‘early’ composers such as Cesti, Cavalli, Lully, Rameau and Purcell but also a ‘live’ Divinités du Styx from a Town Hall recital in 1959 and excerpts from Les Troyens recorded in 1950. The second CD shows Mandikian’s versatility and has her sing Egon Wellesz’s L’Incognita (1951). The third CD is devoted to Greek song going from ancient Greek hymns to Theodorakis’s ‘Love and Death’ under the composer. This CD also includes a interview presentation by the singer. The fourth CD focusses on her concert repertoire including amongst others Britten’s Les Illuminations (1955) and Ravel’s Greek melodies.
Moreover the box contains a 96 (!!!) page booklet in Greek and English including several rare photograps, a biography and a discography. Lovers of vocal art are now forever in their debt to Constantine Pylarinos and Vicky Anthopoulos responsible for this issue. We can only hope the Athens based “Friends of Music Society” will issue more CD portraits such as this one with the best of Greek vocal art from the past.
