Artist Background: 4th Medieval Festival of Ayia Napa

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The Medieval Festival will see performing 6 different acts over the week long event. Using just a name though, doesn't paint a picture of what the Festival really represents. Thus what follows is a brief description of each of the Artist (in appearing order):

Saturday: Vasilis Skoulas

Vasilis Skoulas, a famous Cretan Artist, along with his associates will for the opening present a tribute to the music of Crete. The first part they will perform extracts from the masterpiece of Vincenzos Kornaros "Erotokritos", whilst the second part they will interpret masterpieces of the Cretan Medieval music. Also partcipating along with Skoulas are Paraskevas Perisinakis, Aristides Xatzistavrou and Dimitris Doutsoulis.


Sunday: Christina Pavlidou and the Cypria Voice Music Ensemble with particpation from Niki Antoniou-Karaiskou

The tribulations of love through the songs of our tradition. Music and songs begining from the Medieval times up until the contemporary Cypriot composers and lyric writers, with the Cypriot colours having been arranged in classical, traditional and comtempary methods. The Music Ensemble consists of:

Theodoros Krasides - Flute

Thanasis Athanasiou - Violin

Evgenia Karapataki - Cello

Michalis Minas - Lute/Tzoura

Admitos Pitsillides - Guitar/Vocals

Rodos Panagiotou - Percussion

Yiannos Ioannou - Double Bass

Niki Karaiskou - Vocals

Christina Pavlidou - Vocals


Monday: Arie Antiche

Their programme includes the well know "Arie Antiche" and other Medieval Songs from the Italian and French Repertoire, comprised of the composers Gluck, Stradella, Durante, Giordani, Buonicini amongst others. The Arie Antiche belong to Operas of the 15th and 16th Century that are no longer performed, or parts of which have been lost and have remained incomplete.

Arie Antiche members:

Sona Gargaloyan: Soprano

Marios Charalambos: Tenor

Katie Economidou: Mezzo-Soprano

Manolis Neophytou: Piano


Tuesday: Cyprus Voices

The "Fones" (meaning voices) are particular melodies which constitute models on which Folk Poets used to model their distichs to make songs portraying love. Being more precise, these Folk Poets were obliged to subjugate their lines to these melodies. Each melody took its name depending on the area of origin and where it was first performed. Thus, "Karapasitissa" is from the area of Karpassi, "Mesaritissa" from the area of Mesaria, "Paralimnitisa" from the area of, wait for it, Paralimni. Others include "Zodkiatissa", "Pafitissa", "Lefkonitsiatissa" and others.


Thursday: Acritic and Medieval Songs

The "Acritic" songs (Frontiersmen songs) are considered to be the oldest traditional songs. Researchers have traced their origin back to the years between 800 and 1300 AD. The Acrtic songs praise the life and accomplishments of Acritics, soldiers of the Byzantine Empire who guarded the Empire's Eastern border, most famous of all being Digenis Acritas. Medieval are some Historic songs as well as songs that belong to the Paraloges (Illogic)


Friday and Saturday: "Helix" Street Theatre

The "Helix" Street Theatre was founded in 1987. The unique, innovative theatrical kind its serves makes it stand out amongst other Greek Theatre companies. The group includes seven regular members and severall guest collaborators. The perfect, vivid and impressive shows they perform, guarentee success through the participation of the audience. They comprise all the elements to provide a strong show which entertains you whilst bringing joy also have a deep meaning to them. Being trained in Acrobatics, on stilts, juggling and the art of street performing combined all together to provide a show for both Adults & Children alike. Their shows also combine fanciful scenery and costumes, selected music, theatrical lighting and final the element of fire.

Yiannakis