Born in 1958, Pyromallis had a chance encounter with Maria Callas on the island of Zakynthos when he was just four years old. The meeting left such a profound impression on him that, from the age of 20, he devoted his life to collecting and preserving materials documenting her artistry.

The collection that Pyromallis assembled and donated to the Greek National Opera includes approximately 4,000 vinyl records, 6,000 CDs, hundreds of books, newspaper clippings, magazines, thousands of photographs, autographs, handwritten documents, postage stamps bearing Callas’s image from various countries, medals dedicated to her, and personal belongings, according to a statement from the Greek National Opera.

To honor his extraordinary gift, the Greek National Opera organized the exhibition “UNBOXING CALLAS: An Archival Exploration of the Pyromallis Collection and the Greek National Opera Archive” as part of the Maria Callas Year 2023 celebrations.

In 2024, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou awarded Pyromallis the Golden Cross of the Order of the Phoenix in recognition of his donation to the Greek National Opera.

In its announcement, Artistic Director Giorgos Koumendakis, together with the administration and staff of the Greek National Opera, expressed their deep sorrow over his passing and extended their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.