The respected critic, Thanos Matzanas, from the Greek National radio wrote recently: ”The album “Rachmaninov in Greece “ by Maria Lida Karapanou is an exceptional work, with the interpretation by Maria Lida Karapanou to be exemplary for its whole duration. Especially in the second piano concerto by Sergei Rachmaninov, the distinguished pianist reaches perfection. In a crystal-clear sound, her interpretation is excellent and eloquent even in the smallest detail, finding ballance between the logical sensitivity and the controlled dynamism, fully contributing not only with the style and the aesthetics, but also with the emotional even the philosophical background of the writing of the great Russian composer. Maria Lida Karapanou is a top soloist of the piano who honors the Greek music and the Greek composers not only in her country Greece but also in all Europe and the USA. Pianist Maria-Lida Karapanou has performed internationally throughout her career. Her performances include concerts in Greece, England, Scotland, and the United States.

She studied at the Athens Conservatory of Greece as well as the Royal College of Music in London, United Kingdom, where she also concluded her postgraduate degree, before completing her masters in performance at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland. She also has degrees in Harmony and in Byzantine music. She has received many awards including First Prize at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation competition and First Prize at the Greek State Scholarships Foundation competition.

Maria-Lida Karapanou is a frequent duo partner with the Grammy award winning conductor and violinist John McLaughlin Williams. Her recent release “Chopin’s works” by Maria-Lida Karapanou, released by Subways Music, was highly critically acclaimed. The respected music critic Thanos Mantzanas described her treatment as having a greater understanding of the spirit of Chopin than those of most of the acclaimed soloists performing today. He went on to note that she revealed the emotional world of Chopin in a way which honored his genius as a composer as well as her greatness as a performer.

Maria-Lida Karapanou is devoted not only in performing, but also teaching piano at all levels and all ages. She has great experience in teaching music in schools, while also collaborating with many other musicians, choirs and dancers.

Mrs. Karapanou currently resides in Michigan and is active in performing, teaching and recording both in the United States and in Europe. Her most recent recording is with the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra and the great conductor Byron Fidetzis with whom she has just completed an album including Rachmaninoff‘s second piano concerto along with the piano works of selected Greek composers and some of her own piano compositions. Her interpretations are broadcast regularly on the Greek National Radio (third program) and on the digital radio station Subways Radio in Greece.