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Τhe «Pafos Aphrodite Festival» is this year giving the music loving public of Cyprus the opportunity to enjoy the famous, romantic, comic opera "The Elixir of love" by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, in an performance of international scope, both in terms of artistic quality, and organization.
The Festival will be held on the weekend of the 6, 7 and 8 September at the Medieval Castle of Pafos, involving a team of established artists from the Opera Futura from Verona and the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.
Speaking at a press conference, President of the Company and Pafos Mayor Savvas Vergas said that “this year`s 15th Pafos Aphrodite Festival embodies a particular character, which is defined by significant events. It is being organized in the Culture Capital of Europe for 2017.”
“The institution of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival played a catalytic role in the success of the city and our province, since through its course as an institution of international scope; it highlights the potential of Pafos in European cultural affairs, prospects and orientations on the European cultural map. An important innovative feature of this year`s event is the choice of project, since this is the first time it is being performed on stage at the Pafos Aphrodite Festival,” he added.
Director and Artistic Director of the project is Paolo Panizza and the conductor is Matteo Salvemini. Included in the group of performers are acclaimed soloists such as tenors Alessandro Luciano and Paolo Fanale, sopranos Stefania Bonfadelli and Paola Santucci, the bass Marco Bussi and baritone Alessio Potestio. Participating in the group of performers are compatriots artists, Alex Moskofian (baritone) and Stella Georgiou (soprano).
Minister of Education and Culture Kyriakos Kenevezos said that “in the course of the past 15 years the company «Pafos Aphrodite Festival» has contributed greatly to the strengthening of cultural tourism on our island and established a common and high standard of aesthetic enjoyment and appreciation.”
He added that “there is of course always room to further enhance the added value of the festival with the active involvement of Cypriot artistic potential.”
In a brief address, CTO Chairman Alekos Oroundiotis said “the Festival apart from its positive contribution to culture and music is essential in various areas of development, especially in tourism. It enhances the competitiveness of the tourism product on offer, not only in Pafos and but across Cyprus in general.”
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Culture and Chairman of the Board’s Foundation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Olympia Stylianou said: "This year`s participation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in the festival presents a challenge for the orchestra, which will contribute its best, working with the Opera Futura Italy and under the direction of maestro Francesco Pasqualetti.”
“We can expect a prospective continuation and strengthening of this cooperation in future productions of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival, which we hope will increase the Orchestra’s participation in the shaping of future artistic performances,” she noted.
Italian Ambassador in Cyprus Guido Cerboni expressed his pleasure with the performance of the opera "The Elixir of Love" in Pafos and the certainty that it will be a great success.
He also said it would represent a milestone in relations throughout the centuries linking Italy and Cyprus. Institutional sponsors of the «Pafos Aphrodite Festival 2013» are the Ministries of Education and Culture and Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO).
