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T
he 14
th
PafosAphrodite Festival raised its cur-
tain this year on the Slovak National Theatre’s
performance of Verdi’s
Otello
. The Festival was
held on 7, 8 and 9 September at the Medieval Cas-
tle of Pafos, in Pafos Harbour. The performance
was supertitled in Greek and English.
The Plot
An adaptation of one of William Shakespeare’s
four great tragedies,
Otello
is set at the Castle of
Famagusta in the 15
th
century, where Othello, gov-
ernor of Cyprus, returns victorious from the war
unaware that two of his men, Iago and Rodrigo,
are plotting to destroy him. Iago, wishing to satisfy
his own ambitions, defames Otello’s wife, Desde-
mona, convincing Otello that she was unfaithful to
him with his Captain, Cassio. Blinded by jealousy,
Otello kills Desdemona, but he soon finds out the
truth of Iago’s treachery. Unable to bear the burden
of her murder, he stabs himself and dies.
Cyprus Presidency of the Council
of the European Union
Due to the symbolic connection of this opera with
the occupied city of Famagusta, coupled with con-
tinued international acknowledgment of the Pafos
Aphrodite Festival, this year’s Festival was held
under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the
Council of the European Union, which enhanced
the prestige of the Festival and brought it extra rec-
ognition.
PafosAphrodite Festival Cyprus –
AHistorical Overview
The Company Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus
was founded in 1998 by the Municipality of Pafos,
the Municipality of Geroskipou, the Municipality
of Pegeia, the Pafos Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Cyprus HoteliersAssociation (Pa-
fos District Committee). These five organisations
formed the Company to promote Pafos as an inter-
national centre for high profile cultural events and
to contribute to the international promotion and
advancement of Cyprus in the cultural and tourist
sectors. The Company is a non-profit organisation
that organises and manages the Pafos Aphrodite
Festival and other cultural events in Pafos District.
ASuccess, Despite Being Deemed Unfeasible
Prior to 1998 it was considered unfeasible for Cy-
prus to host a world renowned opera festival. To-
day, thanks to the hard work of people with vision
and a passion for cultural development, as well as
the decisive support of the state and the public and
private sectors, the Pafos Aphrodite Festival has
emerged as an institution of international scope,
Pafos Aphrodite Festival 2012