Diamanda Galás was born in San Diego, California, to Greek Orthodox parents who nurtured her innate talent for piano from a young age. As she grew, Galás' passion for music only intensified, and she went on to study a diverse range of musical forms, as well as visual-art performance.
In 1979, Galás made her performance debut at the prestigious Festival d'Avignon in France, taking on the lead role in the opera "Un Jour Comme Un Autre," composed by Vinko Globokar. This groundbreaking work was based on the harrowing true story of a Turkish woman who was arrested and tortured for alleged treason, as documented by Amnesty International.
Galás' remarkable career has been marked by numerous innovative and emotive works, including the pivotal "Plague Mass" (1990),a haunting mass for those affected by AIDS. Her subsequent compositions have tackled a range of complex and thought-provoking themes, such as AIDS dementia and clinical depression in "Schrei 27" (1996),and the brutal effects of torture in isolation.
Throughout her career, Galás has released a string of critically acclaimed recordings, including "Malediction and Prayer" (1998),"Judgement Day," "Concert for the Damned," and "The Masque of the Red Death" (1984-1988). As of 2005, Galás was actively working on the composition and commissioning of the opera "Nekropolis," a testament to her enduring commitment to pushing the boundaries of music and performance.
