Maria Katsoura has studied violin, viola and opera. She has collaborated with many orchestras, symphonic orchestras, operas and chamber ensembles. She has studied in Greece with tenor P. Raptis, baritone Kostas Paskalis and tenor G. Zervanos.
During 1994 – 1996, after a competition, she won the scholarship of «Maria Callas Foundation», and continued her studies in Russia with the famous soprano Galina Pisarenko (Moscow). In the period 1999 – 2001, on a «Al. Onassis Foundation» scholarship, she stayed in Italy (Rome) where she studied with the famous soprano Antonieta Stella.
Since 1996 she has performed the following roles in the National Opera of Greece: Tchaikovsky: Evgeny Oniegin (Tatiana, 1996), Verdi: Il Trovatore (Leonora - 1997), Puccini: Tosca (Tosca - 1998, 1999, 2000), Puccini: Il Tabarro (Giorgeta - 2000), Verdi: Nabucco(Abigaille - 2001), Vivaldi: L ’ Olympiade(Argene, role for Mezzo-Soprano voice - 2001), Puccini: Tosca (Tosca - 2002), Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer(Senta - 2002), with the Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus of Athens, Puccini: Tosca (Tosca - 2004, 2005).
Other performances:
- Participated as a soloist in the Opening Ceremony of European Gymnastics in Volos (Greece, 2006). She sang parts of Bach’s oratorios and parts of Alcheste (Gluck).
- Concert with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Chania (Crete, 2007) (Passions of Christ).
- Rossini: Messe Solennelle – sopranos’ part (2007).
- Respigi: Il Tramonto with Camerata - Orchestra of Megaron Mousikis of Athens’, under conductor Al. Myrat. (for Mezzo-Soprano and Strings, 2007)
- Soloist in the concert of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Chania in memorium of Maria Callas (2007).
- Respigi: Il Tramonto (with “les musiciens de Paris” orchestra, in Paris, 2008).
- Rossini: Messe Solennelle (Mezzo-Soprano, 2008).
- Concert Hall of Athens – Opera Gala with Soloists from The National Opera of Greece (Maria Katsoura sang excerpts from Nabucco, 2009).
- National Opera of Athens - Opera Gala with Soloists from The National Opera of Greece (2009)
- Festival of Sacred Music of Patmos, compositions for Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra with Conductor Alkis Baltas (2009).
- Vivaldi: Stabat Materfor Contralto voice & Strings (University of Athens, 2009).
- Collaborated with the Quartet of Orchestra of Coloursin many concerts in Greece for Mezzo-Soprano & Soprano voice (2010).
- Collaborated with Conductor Alkis Baltasin concerts of his own compositions for the Melina Merkouri Foundation (2010).
- Concert of spiritual songs ( for Contralto & Mezzo-Soprano voice) in arrangement for Mezzo-soprano and Orchestra with Conductor Alkis Baltas(2010).
- Cavalleria Rusticana(Santuzza ) – Concertante Performance (2010).
- Concert in Metropolitan Church of Pireus – two Voices , Orchestra and Chorus (2011).
- Invited by the Lawyers association of Pireus in concert in famous arias from repertoire Mezzo-Soprano & Soprano-Dramatica (2011).
She has collaborated with conductors:A. Cavallaro, A. Gatto, Peruso, L. Karytinos, M. Karidis, V. Fidetzis, A. Baltas, D. Bouzanis.
She has also sang the soprano part of Rossini’s Stabat Mater. Vivaldi: Stabat Mater per contralto e orchestra. Rossini: Messe Solennelle.
She has appeared as a soloist in Athens Festival (Opera Gala). She has also collaborated as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Greek Radio in the Byzantino Nihtologio by C. Zerbinos. She has performed in concerts in Moscow and Rome.
During her stay in Moscow:
- She collaborated with Novaya Opera and maestro Ey. Colobov in Maria Stuarda (Elisabetta – Mezzo-Soprano).
- La Wally (Wally – Soprano Dramatica).
- In the same period she recorded the oratorio The Sinners by A. Meragulian with the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra under the direction of the famous conductor M. Ermler(role for Mezzo-Soprano).
- Concert for the National Radio of Moscow.
- She was invited to Moscow by the Mozart Institute of Russia to sing in Rachmaninoff Hall and Glinka Museum. For these performances she received great reviews by the Russian Press and Russia’s State Radio, Television, Radio, Musicologists and Critics.