CYPRUS: Cinderella’s fairytale at the Pafos Aphrodite Festival
10 July, 2015
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Following 17 years of success, the ‘Pafos Aphrodite Festival’ has claimed pride of place as one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, having firmly earned its reputation as a cultural highlight on the annual agenda. To date, the festival has given audiences the opportunity to watch great performances from world renowned operas, while this year will see the music loving audience of Cyprus sit back to enjoy the famous melodrama “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) by Gioachino Rossini in a high standard international production, both on an artistic and organizational level. This year’s “17th Aphrodite Festival” will be held at the Pafos Medieval Castle, for 3 days on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of September, with a team of acclaimed artists hailing from the French lyrical organization, Ramfis Productions Avignon, joined by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.
Speaking during the festival’s annual Press Conference, Paphos Mayor and President of the company’s Board of Directors, Fedonas Fedonos said: “For a 17th year running, thanks to the support of the music loving audience of Cyprus and its foreign visitors who have embraced the Pafos Aphrodite Festival, the enchanting area of the Pafos Medieval Castle will become a focal point of culture without boundaries.”
“Through the long and creative journey of this annual occasion, the Pafos town and our country as a whole has left its own mark on the cultural map of Europe, characterized as a melting pot of different nations and cultures. This is highly important, given that Pafos stands as Cultural Capital of Europe for 2017, expected to leave a lasting impression on the long history of this institution with great passion and spirit.”
The gripping story of Gioachino Rossini’s popular melodrama, “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella), coupled with the experience of the artistic team of Ramfis Productions Avignon and the Symphonic Orchestra of Cyprus, guarantee this year’s festivals success. For a third year in a row, Paolo Panizza will stand as director of the theatre, while Massimo Taddia stands as conductor of the orchestra. Moreover, in this year’s production, a team of Cypriot choristers will accompany the lyric choir “Amintore Galli” from the city of Rimini, Italy.
Minister of Education and Culture, Costas Cadis, also attended this year’s press conference, joined by the President of CTO’s Board of Directors, Aggelos Loizou, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture and President of the Foundation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Egli Pantelaki, the ambassador of France in Cyprus, Jean-Luc Florent, and representatives of the sponsors and supporters of the festival.
In his speech, Minister of Education and Culture, Costas Cadis, stated: “Over the course of 17 years, the “Pafos Aphrodite Festival” has contributed to the increase of cultural tourism on our island while fostering an audience who now appreciate high calibre performances. It is worth noting that the collaboration of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival with the Ministry of Education and Culture has been fruitful and productive on all possible levels. Of course, there is always the possibility of raising the bar even higher, with the more active involvement of Cypriot artists in the occasion, in order to facilitate the eventual organisation of our country’s very own operatic performances. It is for this very reason that we are particularly delighted by the involvement of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in the occasion over the past three years, highlighting the effort the company has made towards achieving its goal to eventually produce a fully Cypriot show.”
In a brief address, the president of the CTO’s board of directors, Aggelos Loizou mentioned: “As the CTO we have high regard for such important events as they substantially contribute to the effort of all those in the tourism field, contributing to the establishment of Cyprus as a destination that offers quality options to tourists. The opportunity given to Cypriots to be part a special cultural experience is also very important.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, and president of the Foundation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Egli Pantelaki, stated: “For the third year in a row, the participation of the Cyprus Symphonic Orchestra combined with the a number of Cypriot choristers, stands as an important evolution in the history of the institution, enhancing the element of Cypriot participation. During the last two performances, the orchestra received great comments, praising the high level of artistry it has achieved today. There is no doubt that it will live up to expectations this year. At the same time, there are great prospects for the continued strengthening of this cooperation for future festivals, with Cypriot participants able to have a greater role in shaping the creative character of the performances.”
In his speech, Minister of Education and Culture, Costas Cadis, stated: “Over the course of 17 years, the “Pafos Aphrodite Festival” has contributed to the increase of cultural tourism on our island while fostering an audience who now appreciate high calibre performances. It is worth noting that the collaboration of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival with the Ministry of Education and Culture has been fruitful and productive on all possible levels. Of course, there is always the possibility of raising the bar even higher, with the more active involvement of Cypriot artists in the occasion, in order to facilitate the eventual organisation of our country’s very own operatic performances. It is for this very reason that we are particularly delighted by the involvement of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in the occasion over the past three years, highlighting the effort the company has made towards achieving its goal to eventually produce a fully Cypriot show.”
In a brief address, the president of the CTO’s board of directors, Aggelos Loizou mentioned: “As the CTO we have high regard for such important events as they substantially contribute to the effort of all those in the tourism field, contributing to the establishment of Cyprus as a destination that offers quality options to tourists. The opportunity given to Cypriots to be part a special cultural experience is also very important.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, and president of the Foundation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Egli Pantelaki, stated: “For the third year in a row, the participation of the Cyprus Symphonic Orchestra combined with the a number of Cypriot choristers, stands as an important evolution in the history of the institution, enhancing the element of Cypriot participation. During the last two performances, the orchestra received great comments, praising the high level of artistry it has achieved today. There is no doubt that it will live up to expectations this year. At the same time, there are great prospects for the continued strengthening of this cooperation for future festivals, with Cypriot participants able to have a greater role in shaping the creative character of the performances.”
Lastly, French ambassador in Cyprus, Jean-Luc Florent, noted that the two countries are intrinsically linked in the field of culture. The French Institute of Cyprus plays an important role in the Cypriot cultural domain, enhanced by its participation in the greatest events on the Cypriot cultural agenda, while also offering a number of educational programmes in the field of art and culture. This favourable atmosphere encourages the further development and reinforcement of the cultural cooperation between Cyprus and France.
The Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism via the Cyprus Tourism Organization stand as ongoing sponsors of the ‘Pafos Aphrodite Festival’. Banc de Binary stands as the main sponsor of this year’s festival and is supported by the Shacolas Group. The DIAS group and Sigma television stand as media sponsors.
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| Pafos is the Capital of Culture for 2017 |
Thank you so much for telling us about this great event! It must be one of the best shows for children! I think that even adults should be excited to watch such performances from world renowned operas. Looks like Cyprus is a perfect family-friendly destination. Just click here to find out more amazing spots for the best vacation of your family.
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