Mario Frangoulis

Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis established a strong following at home before teaming with Sony Classical to expand his audience to international proportions. Born in Rhodesia, a region of south-central Africa that would later become Zimbabwe, Frangoulis moved to Greece at age four. Raised by his aunt, he left home at age 17 to study acting at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During his years of schooling, when he was performing in such productions as Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera in London's West End, Frangoulis began making a slow transition toward opera singing. He moved to New York to study for three years at the Julliard School of Music and also studied with legendary tenor Alfredo Kraus. Following his years of study, Frangoulis began performing extensively, in everything from roles in films and television to theatrical productions of Greek tragedies and Shakespere. He also pursued a recording career, beginning a high-profile relationship with Sony Classical in 1998. He topped the charts at home in Greece and extended his reach internationally in 2002 with Sometimes I Dream, an album that infused elements of rock, pop, and film music as well as opera.