The INTERNATIONAL PHAROS CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL has established itself as one of the most innovative and cutting-edge annual music events in the Eastern Mediterranean. Under the artistic direction of the internationally renowned Cypriot composer, Evis Sammoutis, the Festival is dedicated to the promotion of new music: The well-established masterpieces of the contemporary music literature of the 20th century as well as new works by the younger generation of composers. The Festival has so far presented hundreds of Cyprus premieres as well as a great number of world premieres by composers who have been especially commissioned by the Foundation to write new pieces for the occasion. Providing a platform for composers and performers to advance and develop new projects and explore new sound worlds in chamber music settings, the Festival aspires to acquaint the general audience of Cyprus with the music of our times as this is directly linked with many forms of visual and creative arts, and sciences, and it reflects the profundity of the modern-day man and human spirit.
This year’s Festival draws attention to contemporary masterpieces in which human voice takes the lead. Over a decade since the Pharos Arts Foundation presented the Cyprus premiere of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with the London Sinfonietta, this iconic work, which has changed the history of vocal music forever and which has never been performed in Cyprus ever since, will be heard again: this time by the legendary vocalist Marianne Pousseur who will join forces with the exceptional ensemble Het Collectief under the direction of German conductor Robin Engelen.
The Festival will also present the Cyprus premiere of Kurtág’s monumental 70-minute masterpiece for voice and violin, written in 1987, Kafka Fragments, which is based on Kafka’s texts taken from his notebooks, diaries, and letters. The work will be performed by the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Loré Lixenberg and violinist Aisha Orazbayeva.
Another key work in this year’s Festival, reflecting a more ground-breaking approach to vocal writing is Beat Furrer’s Lotófagos, for soprano and double-bass, which was written in 2006 and was premiered by the very same artist who will give its Cyprus premiere as part of the Festival – the exciting double-bassist Uli Fussenegger of Klangforum Wien who will join forces with the sensational French soprano Hélène Fauchère.
Also focused on the linkage between old and new music so that the listener can be familiarized with the historical cohesion of music evolution, comprehend the various procedures and thoroughly enjoy the end result, the Festival will conclude with a recital by pianist Joseph Houston, one of the most sought-after rising stars on the international contemporary music scene, in an all embracing programme, ranging from Scarlatti and Liszt, all the way through to Messiaen, Ives and Xenakis, and the Cyprus premieres of works by Thomas Simaku and Christian Mason.
SCHEDULE:
WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER 2016 / 20:30
CONCERT with vocalist Marianne Pousseur and ensemble Het Collectief under the direction of Robin Engelen in Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, Berg’s Pieces for Clarinet & Piano Op.5 and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht.
THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER 2016 / 11.00
LECTURE by Marianne Pousseur on Vocal Techniques in New Music, followed by a workshop with the participation of young professional singers.
THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER 2016 / 20:30
SCREENING of Larry Weinstein’s documentary, My War Years – Arnold Schoenberg
SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER 2016 / 19:30
PRE-CONCERT TALK by the composer Andreas Tsiartas: Memory and Oblivion – Psychological and Musical aspects on Beat Furrer’s Lotófagos
SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER 2016 / 20: 30
CONCERT with soprano Hélène Fauchère and double-bassist Uli Fussenegger in Beat Furrer’s Lotófagos I, as well as works by Henry Purcell, Klaus Huber, Vito Zuraj and Evis Sammoutis.
TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2016 / 20:30
SCREENING of Judit Kele’s documentary, Kurtág: The Matchstick Man
WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2016 / 20:30
CONCERT with mezzo-soprano Loré Lixenberg and violinist Aisha Orazbayeva in Kurtág’s Kafka Fragments.
SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016 / 20:30
PIANO RECITAL with Joseph Houston in works by Messiaen, Ives, Xenakis, Scarlatti, Liszt, Thomas Simaku and Christian Mason
Educational Activities:
The Festival will host a great number of educational activities, some of them in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture, which will be open to the public. For more information about these activities please contact the Pharos Arts Foundation.
*** Contact the Pharos Arts Foundation for the schedule of the Educational Activities which will take place in the mornings.
Location:
The Shoe Factory
304 Ermou Street
Lefkosia, Cyprus
Tickets:
10 Euro for the concerts.
All other events are Free Entrance.
Information & Tickets:
Information: Pharos Arts Foundation Tel. (+357) 22 663 871 / www.pharosartsfoundation.org
From Wednesday, October 05, 2016
To Sunday, October 16, 2016
