Magical nights in starry Axiothea garden

The Michalis Pieris Cultural Centre opens its doors once again to welcome the university community, art enthusiasts and distinguished artists who, over the next two months, will guide audiences through the mythical crack of time with exquisite and magical nights in the starry garden of Axiothea. The second part of the 27th Cultural Festival of the University of Cyprus is here with the first event happening this Thursday.

Artists, groups, bands and music academies from Cyprus and abroad will lead audiences through an eclectic amalgamation of events, workshops, and seminars. Through music, dance, poetry, theatre and literature, the festival celebrates art that connects people and enriches September’s cultural agenda with 16 performances.

“This fall,” say organisers, “our audiences will meet new and unique creators who are appearing for the first time on the stage of the Axiothea mansion, and they will also have the privilege of enjoying renowned international artists from Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Norway, some of whom are visiting Cyprus for the first time.

“They will once again experience the richness of our nation’s magnificent folk tradition – its music, songs, and dances – with its representatives carrying the weight of their ancient heritage with integrity and ethos. At the same time, they will hear sounds, rhythms and melodies from distant lands that evoke unexpected emotions, creating a sense of familiarity in something that lies between the familiar and the foreign.”

What’s more, the upcoming performances will touch on the profound impact of literature and introduce historically unknown but pioneering artists who defied conventions, inspired others and opened new aesthetic horizons with their art. Participating in the festival’s events, which will run until October 12, are emerging debuting and established artists.

Opening the new festival season is the Nenemia performance, a musical get-together of acclaimed musicians Gabriel Karapatakis from Cyprus, Zacharias Spyridakis from Crete and Hub Hildenbrand from Germany. The three musicians will take the Axiothea floor in old town Nicosia this Thursday to present a cross-cultural jazz project inspired by an original sound concept. New compositions on bass, Cretan lyra and guitar will sound with pieces from their first digital album Nenemia.

27th Cultural Festival of the University of Cyprus

Part two of the 2024 cultural festival. Dance, music, theatre and literature performances and seminars. September 5-October 12. Axiothea Mansion, Nicosia. €10 per performance or €40 for all festival events. Tel: 22-894531