8th International Music Festival Berengaria

The Berengaria International Music Festival is dedicated to the presentation of both chamber and solo music performed by high calibre musicians from all over the world.

Since its creation in 2003 internationally acclaimed artists from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Israel, Romania, Russia, Switzerland and Taiwan have been guests of the festival.

Its 8th edition will take place between April 7th and 13th, 2010, at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the births of both Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann, two towering innovators in Romantic–era composition. The Berengaria Festival is going to celebrate this special jubilee with an extraordinary program dedicated to these composers:

• April 7th:
Chopin Piano Recital with Ingolf Wunder

• April 8th:
Schumann-Chopin master class for young pianists, which will be held by the famous Chilean pianist Edith Fischer

• April 9th:
Schumann Gala with pianists Edith Fischer and Denise Benda and with the Hugo-Wolf-Quartet

It is the intent of the festival to create an atmosphere that fosters earnest interaction between performers, audience, and the music itself, appreciated equally by those new to classical music and by connoisseurs who value the intimacy and intensity of the musical experience.

Music is essential to the aesthetic, intellectual and spiritual development of individuals and their community, and should be made available to people of diverse ages, abilities and means.

One of the aims of the festival is to introduce new audiences, especially young people, to the classical music. Therefore, the festival dedicates every year a special program of education and performances for the young public. Here are this year's events:

• Master-class for young pianists with the famous Chilean pianist Edith Fischer, a former pupil of the legendary Claudio Arrau, with works by F. Chopin and R. Schumann

• Film screening: ‘El Sistema’ is a network of children’s and youth orchestras, music centres and workshops in Venezuela, in which more than 250,000 children and young people are currently learning to play an instrument.

• Matinée with young violinists of the "Strings Workshop" under the direction of Matheos Kariolou. It is a concert for children performed by children and organised in collaboration with the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture.