„The greek mezzosoprano Elsa Janulidu was in both technique and vocal beauty the queen of the evening” Merker
Born in Athens, she received her Biology degree from the Aristotle University Thessaloniki before starting her musical studies.
She graduated with honors (Magistra artium) from the University for Music & Performing Arts in Vienna, where she studied with Prof. Ralf Döring (Opera) and Prof. KS Marjana Lipovšek (Lied & Oratorio).
She was awarded scholarships from the Richard Wagner Stipendienstiftung, the Janacek-Sobotka Foundation and the University for Music & Performing Arts in Vienna.
She was a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zurich Opera House, where she performed in Mozart’s „Cosi fan tutte“, Cavalli’s „La Didone“, Britten’s „The Beggar’s Opera“, Schumann’s „Szenen aus Goethes Faust“, Puccini’s „Gianni Schicchi“ and productions such as Opera Viva für Kinder (Die Fledermaus, Boris Godunow).
She attended masterclasses with Francisco Araiza, Roberto Coviello, Raul Gimenez, Mariella Devia and Grace Bumbry.
Elsa Janulidu won first prizes in the „Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici Rolando Nicolosi”, the “C.A.Seghizzi International Competition”, third prize in the „Concorso Cappuccilli-Patane-Respighi” and also the BelCanto Prize in Bad Wildbad in Germany.
During the Rossini Festival Bad Wildbad in Germany she sang Isabella in „L’Italiana in Algeri” on stage and recorded the role of Zulma of the same opera under the baton of conductor Alberto Zedda (Naxos). At the Rossini Festival in Bad Wildbad she also sang Lucia in „Gazza ladra” (2009, Conductor: Ryuchiro Sonoda) and Zaida in „Il Turco in Italia” (2011, Conductor: Antonino Fogliani).
At the Landestheater Linz (Austria) she sang among other roles Flora (La Traviata), Irene (Hello Dolly), Adelaide (Der Vogelhändler), Diana/Giove in Diana (La Calisto), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Nicklausse/Muse (Les contes d´Hoffmann), Suzuki (Madame Butterfly), Nancy (Albert Herring), The Drummer (Der Kaiser von Atlantis), Mallika (Lakme), Angelina (La Cenerentola).
During 2015 she sang Dorabella in W.A. Mozart’s „Cosi fan tutte” and the role of Xenia at the world premiere of the opera „Chodorkowski“ (production won the 2017 price in the category Best Off-Musiktheater in Austria). In 2016 she sang Nancy in B. Britten’s „Albert Herring” and the role of Zahra at the world premiere of the opera „Nemesis” (Wiener Kammeroper). Highlights of the year were also „Elias“ by F.Mendelssohn in Brucknerhaus Linz and the „Biblical Songs op.99“ by A.Dvorak. In August 2017 she sang the role of Annio in W.A. Mozart’s „La Clemenza di Tito” in France. In 2022 she performed the role of Siébel in C.Gounod’s „Faust” in France.
A CD together with pianist Hanna Bachmann with selected songs in eight different languages named „Dream with me“ has been released in 2021 by Preiser Records in Vienna.
As a concert singer she gave song recitals, took part in chamber music concerts in Austria (Musikverein Vienna, Stephansdom, Brucknerhaus Linz), Greece, Germany, Italy, Serbia and France and worked with such ensembles as Belgrader Philharmoniker, Bruckner Orchester, Virtuosi Brunensis, Orpheus Kammerorchester Wien, Cappella Istropolitana.
Elsa Janulidu speaks fluently Greek, English, German and Italian, understands well French and learns now Russian. She is a Senior Lecturer for classical singing at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and a member of EVTA Austria (European Voice Teachers Association).