12 Facts About Spyridon Samaras

Spyridon Samaras's compositions were praised worldwide during his lifetime and he is arguably the most important composer of the Ionian School.

Spyridon Samaras composed the Olympic Hymn on lyrics of Kostis Palamas.

Spyridon Samaras's mother was from Constantinople and his father Skarlatos Samaras, a diplomat from Siatista.

Spyridon Samaras went to Paris in 1882 to study at the Paris Conservatoire and became a favorite of Jules Massenet.

Spyridon Samaras worked successfully as a composer in Paris for three years and then migrated to Italy in 1885.

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Spyridon Samaras quickly became an important figure in the opera scene in Italy.

Spyridon Samaras became closely associated with Edoardo Sonzogno, a Milanese publisher.

Spyridon Samaras' works enjoyed wide distribution; his operas were staged in Paris, Monte Carlo, Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, Malta, Bucharest, Constantinople, Smyrna, Alexandria, Cairo, Greece and Italy.

Spyridon Samaras wrote fifteen stage works, the last three on texts by Paul Milliet; Storia d'amore o La biondinetta, Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle and Rhea.

Spyridon Samaras returned to Greece in 1911, thinking that he would be appointed director of the Athens Conservatoire.

Spyridon Samaras supported himself by composing operettas aiming at satisfying a variety of audiences, rather than continuing in his usual creative vein.

Spyridon Samaras was chosen by Demetrius Vikelas for composing the Olympic Anthem, on lyrics by Kostis Palamas.