 Following Gian Carlo Menotti’s resignation from the Spoleto Festival USA, the board of Directors appointed Spiros Argiris in 1994 as the Artistic Director of Operatic and Symphonic activities of the US Festival which he held until his death.He conducted contemporary music at the Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik.In 1980 he conducted the world premiere of Hans Werner Henze’s “El Rey de Harlem”, the Commissioned work for the WDR Köln with mezzo-soprano Maureen McNally and the Ensemble "Hinz und Kunst”.