He is the artistic director of Tulsa Opera (Oclahoma, USA) since 2008. He previously served as chorusmaster and has conducted Bellini’s Norma starring Brenda Harris, Mozart’s Don Giovanni featuring Christopher Feigum, and Verdi’s La Traviata with Kelly Kaduce in the role of Violetta and Joshua Kohl in the role of Alfredo. For next season, 2011-2012, he is conducting in October, The Barber of Seville by Rossini, with Sarah Coburn and David Portillo; in February and March, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking with Kirstin Chavez and Michael Mayes; in April, Madame Butterfly by Puccini, with Maria Kanyova in the homonymous role.
Kostis Protopapas has also served as Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles Opera since 2004, as well as the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Santa Fe Opera. During the 2002-2003 season, he was assistant chorusmaster at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, under Donald Palumbo. The Tulsa Opera was founded in 1948 and has been ranked amongst the top ten regional opera companies in the US by the Opera News magazine. The company produces three operas each season.
Kostis Protopapas was born in Athens and studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens. He went to Boston to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and conducting at Boston University, on an Onassis Foundation Scholarship.
