60
A
n exceptional brass ensemble made up
of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra’s
musicians Gareth Griffiths and Andreas
Giannakouras (trumpets), along with Kelly
Alijani and Catherine Heaver (French horns),
took us on an exciting musical journey on 12-
13 December 2015, with two Chamber Music
Concerts featuring works from the renaissance
and baroque periods as well as contemporary
works, under the title
From Renaissance to 20
th
Century.
Renaissance music lovers got to enjoy four
polyphonic works and one dance: two
Canzone
in majestic Venetian polychoral style by Italian
composer Giovanni Gabrielli (1557-1612), a
Ricercare
by Andrea Gabrielli (1532/33-1585),
an arrangement by Alkis Baltas of the highly
expressive French chanson
Mille Regretz
by
Franco-Flemish composer Josquin des Prez
(c. 1450/1455-1521), as well as the jubilant
dance routine
La Mourisque
by Flemish
composer Tielman Susato (1500-1561). The
brass quartet interpreted an arrangement of a
Prelude and Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach
from his keyboard sonata in D Major, before
moving on to two contemporary works: the
entertaining
Divertimento
(1951) by British
composer John Addison (1920-1998), famous
for his film music, and a Suite of much-loved
tunes from the musical
West Side Story
(1957)
by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990).
The two concerts, organised in collaboration
with the Tala Community Council and part of
the events programme of
European Capital of
Culture – Pafos 2017
, took place at the Pallas
Theatre of Paphos Gate in Nicosia, on 12
December and the Hall of Tala new Church of
Saviour’s Birth in Paphos, on 13 December.
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra was founded
in 1987 by the Ministry of Education and
Culture, as a chamber orchestra. In 2006, by
decision of the Council of Ministers, the Cyprus
Symphony Orchestra Foundation (CySOF) was
established. From 1 January 2007 it took over
the management of the Orchestra, which was
renamed Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra plays an
important role in the cultural life of Cyprus.
It presents symphonic performances for
audiences of all ages, promoting knowledge
and cultivating appreciation for classical music.
In addition to symphonic concerts, the CySO
actively engages in educational and outreach
programmes, as well as other cultural activities
all over Cyprus. In order to enrich the cultural
life on the island, the CySO collaborates with
From Renaissance to 20
th
Century
Chamber Music Concerts with musicians of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
