By Alix Norman
The island’s favourite musical gathering may already be well underway, but there’s plenty more to come over the next few days. We’re talking, of course, of the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival, a two-week event which has established itself as the most important classical music event on the island. Running from May 23 to May 31, this will be the 14th annual celebration of chamber music, and the string of concerts are sure to be – as always – of the highest calibre.
With some of the most remarkable artists on the international music scene performing in two of Cyprus’ most inspiring locations, it’s no wonder that this is a gathering which attracts over 2,000 visitors every year. The fortnight also includes several educational concerts for students of public schools as well as a number of master classes for young instrumentalists, so there’s bound to something you won’t want to miss.
Today, for instance, brings the opportunity to see the Amarcord Ensemble performing romantic music at The Shoe Factory. Organised in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Zypern and supported by the EU, this all-male vocal ensemble will perform a delightful programme incorporating music by Schumann, Marschner and Muhling among others.
Founded in 1992 by former members of St Thomas’ Boys Choir in Leipzig, the Amarcord Vocal Ensemble is world-renowned, their unique tone, breath-taking homogeneity, musical authenticity, and a good dose of charm and humour entertaining audiences the world over. With their vast and highly diverse musical repertoire, the group promises a concert both memorable and uplifting.
From tomorrow, the festival relocates to the Royal Manor House in Kouklia with a series of five chamber concerts on consecutive days of the week. Monday May 26 to Friday May 30 sees a selection of the greats – Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Beethoven, Debussy and Brahms to name just a few – performed by some of the best musicians in the world.
Three notable pianists will be playing during the concert series: François-Frédéric Guy, Yevgeny Sudbin and Ashley Wass. The first of these, is regarded as one of the most fascinating pianists of his generation, a dedicated chamber musician with a particular admiration for Beethoven. Yevgeny Sudbin, meanwhile, has the distinction of having been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Music in London – where he is now a Visiting Professor – and has been hailed by The Telegraph as “potentially one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century”. And Ashley Wass – the only British winner of the prestigious London International Piano Competition – is in demand the world over for his particular skills as a chamber musician.
Those violinists playing at the five concerts will include Tanja Becker-Bender, Daishin Kashimoto, Boris Brovtsyn and Levon Chilingirian – all four united in their passion for bringing musical excellence to their audiences. Tanja, who has studied with the leading quartet musicians of the world, is a professor at both the University of Music in Saarbruecken and the University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg; Daishin, the youngest winner in history of the International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna, currently holds the position of Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic; Boris – also a laureate of international competitions – is a graduate of both Moscow´s Central Music School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Levon – born in Cyprus to Armenian parents – is a founding member of the world famous Chilingirian Quartet, as well as a professor at the Royal College of Music.
The concert series will also include performances by Diemut Poppen – one of the finest viola players in the world, for whom several composers have written – and world-famous cellist Alexander Chaushian, who is so well-known that he needs no recommendation whatsoever. In fact, Alexander will also be performing on the final day of the festival – alongside pianist Yevgeny Sudbin – at the Shoe Factory in a recital that will incorporate works by Bach, Chopin, Scriabin, Franck and Rachmaninov.
So, even if you missed the superb piano recital from François-Frédéric Guy on Friday, or the divine sound of renowned harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani yesterday evening, there’s still plenty of enjoyment to be had in the next few days. Join The International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in its leisurely exploration of the history and cultural heritage of Cyprus this coming week, and enjoy an unparalleled range of recitals and chamber concerts.
14TH INTERNATIONAL PHAROS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sunday 25 May @ The Shoe Factory: Concert with the Amarcord Vocal Ensemble
Monday 26 – Friday 30 May @ Royal Manor House in Kouklia: Five chamber concerts
Saturday 31 May @ The Shoe Factory: Recital with Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) & Alexander Chaushian (cello)
All concerts start at 8.30pm
Tickets are priced at €10, and are available from the Box Office on 7000-9304 (daily 9.30-11.30am), www.pharostickets.organd KyriakouFullpage Bookshops (call 26 822850)
For further information on the Pharos Arts Foundation call 22663871 or visit www.pharosartsfoundation.org
