The opening of the European Capital of Culture Pafos2017 is inspired by the myths and showcases the history, the cultural heritage, the diversity and the multiculturalism over time, all the way to the modern culture of Pafos, Cyprus and Europe. At the heart of these events, lies the myth of the birth of Pafos through the union of Pygmalion and Galatea, a creator and his creation, highlighting the fact that Pafos is a piece of art in itself.
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For further information: Website: www.pafos2017.eu
The Open Air Factory transcends the limits between Art and Life, restoring continuity and leading Pafos to a story of return back to its own self: back to being a piece of art.
Pygmalion, Galatea and everything that followed, assign Pafos the role of the island’s Capital of Culture from the beginning of history and the Organisation Pafos2017 starts the narrative of the European Capital of Culture at the heart of the city where its most recent history was written, in front of the schools and the neoclassical buildings of the city centre.
Τhe opening events use dramatic composition to link the past and the future of the city, creating the narrative of Pafos’s grand journey towards the world and of the world towards Pafos through actions, spectacles, exhibitions, music and projections. Musicians, actors, dancers, volunteers, young people and children from all the communities of Cyprus, including Pafos, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Aarhus, come together in a celebration of Europe and multiculturalism that marks the opening of the European Capital of Culture – Pafos2017 programme.
The opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture – Pafos2017 showcases the history, the multicultural diversity and the modern culture of Pafos as an integral part of the wider European culture. The ceremony was designed and produced by a creative team of Cypriot artists and intellectuals, working with Walk the Plank.
Inspired by the myth of Pafos, it has at its heart the founding myth of Pygmalion, the artist and his creation, Galatea.
The celebratory performance seeks to portray the core concepts of the Open Air Factory, such as creativity, originality, artistic excellence, and also multiculturalism, diversity, as well as the hope for a unified country.
Young people, children and volunteers from all over Cyprus will join a professional cast from all over the island. Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians and singers will perform in unison with a Danish choir and the Jazz Orchestra from Aarhus, our partner Capital of Culture. As Pygmalion invokes the spirit of Aphrodite to breathe life into the statue he has carved, light and fire will illuminate the sky above our newly restored city centre.
Original compositions, as well as adaptations of music, choreographies and projections brought to life by actors, dancers and hundreds of children who illuminate the moment of Pafos’ birth and mark the opening of the European Capital of Culture – Pafos2017. The ceremony was designed and produced by a creative team of Cypriot artists and intellectuals, working with Walk the Plank.
Artistic Direction: Liz Pugh
Creative Producer: John Wassell
Text composition / dramatisation: Efi Kyprianidou
Direction: Neoklis Neokleous
Music composition, supervision and coordination: Christina Athinodorou
Set: Giorgos Papadopoulos
Choreography/Teaching: Ido Τadmor
Assistant Choreographer/Teacher: Jhonathan Hay Soutchy
Costume Design: Miranta Theodoridou
Visual Environment Design/3D Mapping: Vera Papastavrou, Kyriakos Kousoulidis
Lighting Designer: Stephen Page
Presenter: Antonia Philippou
Participating:
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Conductor: Lars Møller
Concert Clemens Choir – Teacher: Carsten Seyer Hansen
The Choir of the Music Lyceum of Pafos– Teacher: Isavella Christofidou
Pafos Municipality Philharmonic Band – Conductor: Zacharias Evangelou
Participating Dancers:
Eleni Nikolaou, Stefanos Constantinou, Valeria Ntrapella, Mikaella Michael, Christiana Ploutarchou, Eleni Petrou, Elias Schinas, Eftychia Charalambous, Michalis Schinas, Ygal Jerome Tsur, Neta Heinic, Yaacov Filtser, Or Elgarisi, Nimrod Poles, Adi Hanan and the students of Dance Schools of Pafos coordinated by Dance Culture Pafos.
Participants live on stage or recorded on the soundtracks:
Andreas Tselepos, Filonila Chistoforou, Neoklis Neokleous (Actors)
Marios Andreou, Maria Andreou and Umut Albayrak (Singers)
Savvas Christodoulou (Flute)
The children Kyriakos Anastasiou, Ermina Kalogirou and Lena Charalambous (song)
Children from the Theatre Institute of Pafos.
Children from Primary Schools of Pafos.
Recordings of actors-singers: Suite 16 Recording Studio. Sound engineer: Efthivoulos Theocharous.
Sound mixing: Andreas Georgallis – City Studios.
Mastering: Lowland Mastering U.K./ Nigel Palmer
Sound Design: Melvyn Coote
From Saturday, January 28, 2017
To Sunday, January 29, 2017
