46
47
in the world, mainly in Germany and Poland.
Dr. Mikulski has been honoured by the Polish
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as
one of the youngest artists in the history of
Polish culture, receiving the “Gloria Artis”
medal for his artistic activity (2008). In 2011 he
was also awarded the Silver Medal of the City
of Berlin, for his cultural contribution.
Works by Cypriot Composers
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra joined
forces with members of the Cyprus Youth
Symphony Orchestra to present a programme
dedicated to works by five contemporary
Cypriot composers, which were inspired by
the history and culture of Cyprus, as well as
by the experience of contemporary life. It was
a small sample of the rich musical treasure
and visions of Cypriot creators of music today,
which reinforced their active presence in the
global musical landscape.
Under conductorYiorgos Kountouris, the orchestras
presented
Six Miniature Paintings
by Nicos Vichas,
Ups and Downs
by Andreas Yangopouos,
Naked
Branches
by Christina Athinodorou,
Dionysian
Dances
by Christodoulos Georgiades and
Cypriada
byAndreas Kameris.
Chamber Music Concerts
The exceptional String Trio comprising CySO
musicians Wolfgang Schroeder (violin), Sorin
Alexandru Horlea (viola) and Peter Gospodinov
(cello) gave two chamber music concerts on 7 and 8
March in Nicosia and Paphos. Held in collaboration
with the Organisation “European Capital of Culture
– Paphos 2017”, the concerts were under the
established chamber music series organised by the
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation.
The Trio interpreted Johann Sebastian Bach’s
monumental
Goldberg Variations, BWV
988 in
Dmitry Yulianovich S Sitkovetsky’s arrangement
for string trio. The great German composer wrote
Variations
for keyboard instruments after being
commissioned by the Russian ambassador to the
Dresden court, with the request “to be cheered
up a little”. Bach’s response was a rigorous and
inspired work; a set of 30 variations with an
amazing range of styles, forms and emotions. This
deeply humanistic music speaks to us even more
powerfully in today’s troubled times.
Yiorgos Kountouris
Sorin Alexandru Horlea (viola)
(Left to right) Soteris Hatzakis, Yiannis Toumazis and Georgios Stephanakis
T
he Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC)
and National Theatre of Greece signed
a Protocol of Cooperation on 22 January
2015, opening the way for the two theatres
to implement an artistic programme aimed at
promoting and developing the art of theatre.
The Protocol was signed by THOC Chairman
Yiannis Toumazis and the National Theatre’s
Chairman George Stephanakis and Artistic
Director Soteris Hatzakis, at the THOC Theatre
in front of the Cyprus Theatre’s Board members,
Artistic Committee, staff and the media.
With the common perception of the theatre’s
educational character as a starting point, the
agreement is based on four main themes:
a) The study, research, performance of Ancient
Drama
b) The development and enhancement of
Modern Greek Drama
c) Classical and contemporary international
repertoire
d) Research and experimentation on the new
theatrical trends.
Special emphasis will be given to joint artistic
activities that reinforce the effector origins of
theatre, interreligious discourse and religious
tourism, which will showcase the common
roots and culture, and further boost ties between
the two countries.
More specifically, the two theatres will
exchange shows, co-produce plays, transfer
artists, theatre theorists and technicians from
one to the other, hold educational programmes,
seminars and lectures, and much more.
Welcoming attendees to the special ceremony
for the Protocol signing, THOC Board
of Directors Chairman Yiannis Toumazis
stressed the importance of the new, dynamic
and creative collaboration between the two
countries’ state theatres, which he said was the
result of relentless efforts by THOC to “broaden
its action beyond Cyprus and mainly in the
THOC signs Protocol of Cooperation
with National Theatre of Greece
