General Information

Enjoy world-class chamber music performances in the unique atmosphere of historic Kouklia, part of the Aphrodite Cultural Route in Cyprus.  

The Pharos Trust’s eighth International Pharos Chamber Music Festival brings some of the world’s most accomplished soloists and ensembles together in Cyprus for an intensive week of music-making. The Festival has established, since its inception in 2001, an international reputation for the quality of its performances and its unique location at the medieval Manor at Kouklia.
 

Our Artists
Eighteen renowned soloists and chamber musicians are participating this year, and listeners will be treated to eight concerts with a varied programme ranging from Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Schubert to Brahms and Shostakovich.  This year, a baroque recital for voice and harpsichord is also incorporated on 3 June 2008.

Violin

Alina Ibragimova

Henning Kraggerud 

Jennifer Frautschi 

Ilya Gringolts

Levon Chilingirian
Anahit Kurtikyan
 

 Viola

Diemut Poppen

Yuri Zhislin
 

Cello

Aram Talalian

Alex Chaushian

Christoph Richter
 

Clarinet

Chen Halevi
 

Horn

Radovan Vlatkovic

Piano

Yevgeny Sudbin

Alexander Ghindin

Ashley Wass

Harpsichord

Markellos Chryssicopoulos  

Mezzo – soprano

Romina Basso

The Venue and Surrounding Area
Situated next to the archaeological site of Aphrodite’s Sanctuary, the Royal Manor House is one of the finest surviving monuments of Frankish architecture on the island, and its Great Hall forms a uniquely atmospheric setting for chamber music performances. During intermissions, guests can enjoy a glass of wine under the stars in the beautiful courtyard. The complex also houses a small but interesting museum which records the rich history of human activity in the area from about 2800 BC to the present day.

The UNESCO World Heritage site at Palaipafos (Kouklia) constitutes part of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s “Aphrodite’s Cultural Route”, which encompasses nature sites connected to the goddess as well as museums and archaeological sites. Palaipafos, or Old Pafos, was a city-kingdom of Cyprus and one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centres of the ancient Greek world. It was the site of a famous sanctuary of Aphrodite, the oldest remains of which date back to the 12^th century BC.

Other noteworthy sights in the area include the ancient site of Curium (Kourion), with its spectacular Roman mosaics and restored amphitheatre, and the beach at Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock), where the goddess is said to have first risen from the sea. In the nearby mountain area there are numerous Byzantine churches containing some of the finest examples of conserved wall painting in the eastern Mediterranean region. For more information about Aphrodite’s Cultural Route visit www.visitcyprus.org/routes in Cyprus. 

The Festival Package
Festival guests will be able to relax in real style at the 5* Columbia Beach Resort or the 4* Columbia Beach Hotel, situated side by side on a secluded Blue Flag beach at Pissouri Bay. The hotels are within easy reach of the island’s two airports, the towns of Paphos and Limassol, championship golf courses and other points of interest. In Pissouri Bay there are several choices for eating out and the picturesque village of Pissouri is only 4km away.

We offer two Holiday Packages as follows:

Chamber Music Holiday package:  A (28 May - 5 June 2008 inclusive)

Includes:

·           9 nights accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis

·           Tickets to all 8 concerts with preferential seating

·           Transfers between hotel and concert venue

·           Two dinners with the artists after the concerts

·           A pre – concert reception at the Columbia Beach Resort

Columbia Beachotel ****          € 3025.00           Standard room – 2 people sharing

                                                € 2285.00           Single Occupancy room

Columbia Beach Resort *****   € 4250.00           Junior Suite Sea View – 2 people sharing

                                                € 3300.00           Single occupancy room

Chamber Music Holiday package B (28 May – 1 June or 1 - 5 June, 2008 all dates inclusive)*

Includes:

·           5 nights accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis

·           Tickets to 4 concerts with preferential seating

·           Transfers between hotel and concert venue

·           A dinner with the artists after one of the concerts

·           A pre-concert reception at the Columbia Beach Resort

 

Columbia Beachotel ****          € 1685.00           Standard room Sea View – 2 people sharing

                                                € 1220.00           Single occupancy room

Columbia Beach Resort *****   € 2380.00           Junior suite Sea View – 2 people sharing

                                                € 1765.00           Single occupancy

* if other dates are more suitable to your schedule please let us know and we will make our best to meet your needs.

Additional options include:

·       Additional nights at Columbia Beachotel or Columbia Beach Resort can be reserved at special festival rates.

·       Excursions to view Byzantine churches and monasteries, archaeological sites or local wineries for wine-tasting can be arranged.