For the World Music Day

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its Artistic Director / Chief Conductor Alkis Baltas invites you το a celebration of the World Music Day with a rich programme of operatic arias and orchestra masterpieces. Cypriot soprano soloist Zoe Nicolaidou will interpret arias from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (“Deh vieni non tardar”) and Così fan tutte, Verdi’s La Traviata (“Addio del passato”), Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles and Puccini’s La Bohème (“Quando me'n vo'”). Orchestral works include Haydn’s Symphony no. 30, the Overture from Beethoven’s The Consecration of the House op. 124, Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony no. 5 and works by Schubert and Offenbach.

Two concerts will be given at 8:30pm on Thursday 20 June 2013 at Markideion Theatre, Paphos, and Friday 21 June 2013 at Pallas Theatre, Paphos Gate, Nicosia.

Tickets are available at the Theatres’ box office (Markideion Theatre, 2 hours before the concert, tel. 26 932571, Pallas Theatre, tel. 22 410181 from Thursday 20/6/13, 4-7pm) at €12 and €7 (18- 26 years old and pensioners). Free entrance for children and students under 18 years old. Information: 22463144, www.cyso.org.cy

The artists:
The Cypriot soprano Zoe Nicolaidou, was part of Paris Opera’s Young Artists Program where she trained from 2009- 2011, and has made her debut at Paris National Opera under great conductors such as Philippe Jordan (Suor Angelica), Bernharndt Kontarsky (Faust, Fenelon), Dan Ettinger (Le Nozze di Figaro), Thomas Hengelbrock (Orpheus und Euridike). She has received the Le Prix Lyrique du cercle Carpeaux in 2011 that rewards the most noticeable young singer of the season. Last seasons’ roles include: Amor (Orpheus und Eurydike) at Palais Garnier and Lincoln Center New York, Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro) in Opéra Bastille, Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) in Austria, Serpetta (La Finta Giardiniera), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), a Flower girl (Parsifal), the Nymph (Euridice, Peri) at the Kammeroper Wien, Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), Amore (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) and Popelka (Veselohra na moste) in Austria. Her concert repertoire covers works such as: Brahms Deutsches Requiem, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat, Haydn’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s B minor mass, Die Rose (Der Rose Pilgefahrt, Schumann), “et apres eux le silence” (World Premiere) “Misterium Fidei” (World Premiere) in venues such as: Palais Garnier, Musikverein Wien, Rudolfinum Prague, Villa Medicis (Rome), Montpellier Opéra Corum, Amphithéatre (Bastille), Festival La Roque d’Anthéron, Festival Echternach, Real Filharmonia de Galicia. Future engagements include: Titania (The Fairy Queen, Purcell) in Lausanne, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 in Portugal, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Amor (Orpheus und Euridike) at the Palais Garnier and Teatro Real Madrid.

Alkis Baltas was born in Thessaloniki. He studied at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki and continued his music studies in Berlin obtaining a diploma in composition and orchestral conducting. In 1974 he obtained a Law degree from the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki. From 1983 to 1992 he was Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra. During 1994-1997 he held the position of Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera and between 1997 and 1999 of the Artistic Manager of ERT Music Ensembles. From 2004 to 2008 Corfu Municipality appointed him Artistic Director of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra. In 2009 he was appointed Conductor of the Thessaloniki State Conservatory Orchestra. In 2010 he undertook the Artistic Direction of the Old Philharmonic Society of Corfu Symphony Orchestra. Since 2001 he is the Artistic Director of Patmos Sacred Music Festival. In May 2011 the CySO Foundation appointed him Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He is the Director of “Ellinikon Odeion” of Athens and the “Music College” in Thessaloniki. He has taught for many years at the Musicology department of Aristotle University. He is a member of the Greek Composers Union. Many of his works (chamber music, choral and orchestral works, opera, etc.) have been repeatedly performed in Greece and abroad. Some of his compositions have received awards in competitions in Greece and abroad (Italy, Spain). Recently a double CD with his works has been released by Iris. He has conducted all the Greek orchestras and has given many concerts abroad (Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Cyprus, Soviet Union, Turkey, USA, Argentina, Australia, England, Thailand, Qatar a.o.).