IT’S about that time of year when the Paphos medieval harbour is transformed into a super theatre setting under the stars and the ice-cream licking tourists are replaced by high-heeled dresses, suits and ties and opera lovers.
The Paphos Aphrodite Festival is presenting its sixth operatic production with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto performed by the National Opera of Poland. The show opens tonight at 8pm, followed by performances tomorrow and on Sunday.
The Festival brings opera to the island every September, inviting locals and visitors to a night of magic, lavish scenery and gifted vocal artists. Following the successful staging of Aida (1999), Carmen (2000), Nabucco and Zorba the Greek (2001), Turandot (2002) and Tosca (2003), the organisers are offering yet another unique experience with Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Verdi’s perhaps most popular opera will be staged by one of Europe’s biggest operatic organisations, the National Opera of Poland, with internationally acclaimed soloists such as Nikolai Putilin. All the ingredients in the pan, plus the fact that all performances are held in the open air at the Medieval Castle on the harbour, have established the Paphos Aphrodite Festival as a symbol of culture and civilisation in Cyprus and beyond.
This year’s operatic presentation will be enhanced by the introduction of supertitles translating the libretto into Greek and English above the stage.
One of the great Italian grand operas, Rigoletto is based on Victor Hugo’s drama Le roi s’amuse and includes one of opera’s most memorable characters, the hunch-backed jester.
Rigoletto’s cunning plan to keep his beautiful yet innocent daughter Gilda away from the hungry hands of the Duke of Mantua ends in tragedy when the plotted assassination of the Duke is foiled and it is Gilda who ends up tragically dying in his arms – not that any death would not be tragic, but there you have it.
Around 7,500 tickets were available for the three nights. Interested parties would do well to call immediately if they have not yet bought one of the tickets, ranging from £20-45.
Performances start at 8pm, but the gates open at 6.30pm. All roads to the harbour will be manned by police and access will be limited to ticket holders. The audience will have to be seated at least 10 minutes before the start. Latecomers will have to wait until the first intermission to be seated. The show goes on for two hours with two breaks around 25 and 30 minutes long. Food and drink will be available in the vicinity. This is not a picnic in the park or at the Curium so no food can be brought in I’m afraid, and try to leave the mobile in the glove compartment or at least switch it off. Other than that, prepare for a night of music, sweet music.
For further details call 26-822218 or free phone 8000 8005.
