By Bejay Browne.
The 21st edition of the ‘Pafos Aphrodite Festival’ will present Giuseppe Verdi’s popular opera Macbeth in a production by the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus at the end of August.
Verdi’s masterpiece will be performed on August 30, 31 and September 1 at the square of the mediaeval castle in Kato Paphos. Simultaneous translation will be available in Greek, English and Russian via subtitles.
The dramatic opera, Macbeth, (Macbetto) is based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same name and consists of four acts with an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It premiered on March 14, 1847 at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence.
The announcement of this year’s festival was made during a news conference in Nicosia, where the ‘opera thriller’ was presented.
The president of the Cyprus Aphrodite Festival, Paphos Mayor, Phedonas Phedonos, spoke of the 21 years of creative development of the institution, emphasising its importance, and that event is at the heart of the cultural and artistic events of Cyprus, as it is now recognised as one of the largest, if not the largest festival, in Cyprus.
“The attempt to consolidate and establish the institution was not an easy task as opera was not a known or widespread form of art in Cyprus, and it was not known if there would be a large enough audience on the island to support such an event,” he said.
The plot of the opera unfolds in 11th century Scotland and tells of the rise of Macbeth to the throne of Scotland after he murders King Duncan and General Banquo.
For more information contact: ‘Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus’ Tel: 26822218 or visit www.pafc.com.cy
