This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival, which brings an internationally renowned opera production to the harbour during the first weekend of every September. The medieval castle provides the romantic background for the outdoor performance; grandstands are assembled for comfortable seating in an amphitheatre format. ‘The Barber of Seville,’ Gioachino Rossini’s celebrated comic opera of 1816, is this year’s production. Set in seventeenth-century Spain, the opera shows how Figaro (barber and jack of all trades) helps Count Almaviva to win the hand of the lovely Rosina. Rosina is the ward of Dr Bartolo, who also wants her as his bride and devises various schemes to keep her away from the count. False identities and ridiculous ruses set the comic tone. The production comes from Italian opera company C.I.A.L.M./Teatro Lirico Italiano under the direction of Lev Pugliese; the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra provides musical support. The two-act performance is in Italian with English, Greek, and Russian subtitles. As the festival is only a ten-minute stroll from Annabelle, why not plan an evening of drinks, dining, and theatre? Enjoy panoramic views of the castle and harbour from Ouranos over a cocktail and light meal. Then head out for a night at the opera. The programme starts at 20:00 and runs three nights, 31 August and 1-2 September. Tickets are available from the festival website contact Guest Services to make food and beverage reservations.
