Arts extravaganza
The annual Kypria Festival opens its doors next week and promises a variety of performances to last over the coming weeks
It’s that time of year when locals and visitors on the island can put their hands together and celebrate all things ‘Kypria’. Actually, it’s not quite what the name suggests as performances by local Cypriot artists only account for part of the Kypria Festival, as foreign companies also jet in to impress the crowds with special shows.
This time round, 18 performances were chosen from 73 proposals, with plenty of music, opera, theatre and dance as part of the annual occasion. Commencing on September 3, Kypria events will continue until October 20, with shows at various theatres throughout the island. So what’s tipped as being the best of the lot?
Complexions New York Contemporary Dance Group
Lovers of contemporary dance rejoice – the Complexions New York dance company is finally coming to perform in Cyprus for a show that will give audiences a taste of contemporary ballet in all its glory. Back in 1994, the founders of the group, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, had a vision for sharing their appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism through dance. With Rhoden being one of America’s most popular creative directors, the concept was to bring many artists from various disciplines into one room and let their interaction become a springboard for innovative creation.
From the beginning, the company received numerous accolades for its powerful and often provocative performances. In 1995, Complexions received the coveted New York Times Critics Choice Awards and began touring. The company has since been invited to perform at major European Dance Festivals and tours around the world with shows inspired by social and political issues, pondering the human condition and the full range of human emotions.
Expect cutting edge and original choreography in the upcoming performance with exceptionally gifted dancers. The music of Gershwin, Aretha Franklin, John Adams and Bach is used to create pieces of pure physical movement.
Noema Danceworks ‘Crossing Borders’
Expect a mix of dance, music and video art in this quirky piece by Noema Danceworks that challenges and examines how artificial and forced borders obstruct the evolution and development of a country as a whole.
Founded by Alexandra Waierstall, Noema Danceworks has been busy developing its activities as a European contemporary dance company, presenting its work in festivals such as Aerowaves, Tanec Praha and the Kalamata Dance Festival. As the daughter of the German artist father and Cypriot choreographer mother, Waierstall splits her time between Dusseldorf and Nicosia.
Knowing a lot about crossing borders in daily life, dance for Waierstall is all about capturing moments of everyday actions and transferring them into something tangible and exciting on stage.
Budapest Concert Orchestra and Kamea Israel Dance Group ‘Carmina Burana’
Carmina Burana in all its glory as the Budapest Concert Orchestra and the Kamea Israel Dance Group join forces for a one off performance. Carmina Burana was composed by Carl Orff between 1935 and 1936, based on the 24 poems in the namesake medieval Latin collection. Influenced by late Renaissance and Baroque works, it has become a world famous theatrical piece, performed in some of the best theatres around the globe.
While the Kamea Group will be wowing the crowds with a dynamic dance show, the Budapest Concert Orchestra will bring the piece to life with fantastic music. Having recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, the orchestra has performed in hundreds of concerts around the world, including sell out concerts with Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
Moscow Helikon Opera ‘The Barber of Seville’
Don’t miss The Barber of Seville brought to life by the Moscow Helikon Opera. Written by Italian Giochino Rossini, it is an opera in two acts with a libretto based on Beaumarchais’ comedy, Le Barbier de Seville. Although other operas based on the play preceded Rossini’s version, it is his interpretation that has stood the test of time as it continues to be a mainstay of the operatic repertoire. Quite outstandingly, all the music for the opera was composed in just three weeks, though the famous overture was actually borrowed from a prior Rossini opera.
Interestingly, the first time The Barber of Seville was performed to an audience in 1816, it was a disastrous failure as the audience hissed and jeered throughout. The performances that followed however met with a very different fate as the Roman audiences gave the opera a second chance and it soon became a roaring success.
You can expect a very special performance here in Cyprus by the Moscow Helikon Opera, founded in 1990 by the People’s Artist of Russia, Dmitry Bertman, which has became popular throughout the world with performances in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Salzburg Festspielhaus, Montpellier Opera Berlioz and the Paris Champs Elysees Theatre.
Goran Bregovic ‘Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals’
One of the most famous modern composers of the Balkans is to appear on our shores with his entertaining wedding and funeral band. Sound a little odd? Not to worry, Goran Bregovic and his band simply insist on playing music that our souls recognise instinctively and bodies greet with an irresistible urge to dance.
There’s so much to say about Bregovic’s long career that it’s hard to know where to begin. Born in Sarajevo in 1950, Bregovic earned his fame as a guitar player with his rock band Bijelo Dugme – a group that rose to stardom and set the groundwork for the Yogoslav rock scene. Known internationally for his scores for Emin Kusturica’s films (Time of the Gypsies, Arizona Dream and Underground), he’s also composed for various artists including Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora.
In concert, Bregovic commands an ensemble that matches his larger than life persona as a rowdy brass band, bagpipes, a string ensemble, a tuxedo-clad, all-male choir from Belgrade, and traditional singers make up his dynamic 40-piece band and orchestra! What’s more, his compositions somehow manage to combine the extremes as traditional Balkan rhythms are infused with electric guitar and traditional percussion with a curious touch of rock.
Kypria 2007 International Festival Calendar of Events
Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra
September 3: Strovolos Muncipal Theatre, Nicosia
Complexions New York Contemporary Dance Group
September 6: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Strovolos, Nicosia
September 7: Patticheon Amphitheatre, Larnaca
State Northern Theatre of Northern Greece ‘Lysistrata’
September 7: Curium Ancient Amphitheatre, Limassol
September 8: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Strovolos, Nicosia
Municipal Peripheral Theatre of Crete ‘Captain Michalis’
September 12: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Strovolos, Nicosia
September 13: Curium Ancient Amphitheatre, Limassol
Doros Demosthenous Concert ‘One For the Road’
September 13: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
September 14: Rialto Theatre, Limassol
Goran Bregovic ‘Tales and Songs From Weddings and Funerals’
September 14: D’Avila Moat, Nicosia
September 15: Castle Square, Paphos
European Union Baroque Orchestra ‘Orpheus Myth’
September 20: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia
September 21: Larnaca Municipal Theatre
Noema Danceworks ‘Crossing Borders’
September 21: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
September 23: Castle Square, Paphos
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Concert
September 25: Rialto Theatre, Paphos
September 26: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia
Savvas Houvartas Ethnic Jazz Concert
September 28: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia
September 3
0: Rialto Theatre, Limassol
Budapest Concert Orchestra and Kamea Israel Dance Group ‘Carmina Burana’
September 28: Castle Square, Paphos
September 29: Patticheon Amphitheatre, Larnaca
September 30: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
Moscow Helikon Opera ‘The Barber of Seville’
October 3: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia
October 5: Municipal Garden Theatre, Limassol
Ledra Music Soloists and Avantgarde Pianist Non ‘Solo’
October 5: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia
Michalis Christodoulides ‘40 Years of Musical Creation’
October 9: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
October 10: Rialto Theatre, Limassol
Vasos Argyrides ‘Senses and Jasmine’
October 12: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
October 13: Patticheon Municipal Theatre, Limassol
Bejart Ballet Lausanne ‘L’Amour, La Danse’
October 19 and 20: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
All performances start at 8.30pm. Tel: 25 878744/22 800933
