The 26th Renaissance Festival is well-established over the course of time. It wishes to make reference to the period of Cretan Renaissance in order to bring this period closer to the present. Though simpler and shorter than earlier years, following the needs of our times, the Festival remains faithful to our hope to weave creatively the bonds between past and present times. It aims at becoming a centre for the revitalization and support of cross cultural exchange among people, as well as between Science and Art, opening the paths for a dialogue and exchange of cultural elements which, at the past times, has been done not only in peace but mostly through debates, disputes, and wars. This year’s Rethymnon Festival wishes to offer the fragrance of similarities in human expression beyond local, national or temporal differences, as an isle of beauty, quality and communication.
17/8 Sounds in Porphyra - (Erofili Theater - 21:30)
A unique concert that traces the sources of Byzantine music heritage presenting works by Greek composers of Constantinople, Akritika songs and ballads, as well as songs discovered in post-Byzantine manuscripts.
En Chordais is one of the most internationally acclaimed and exceptional music ensembles specializing in the traditions of the Mediterranean music. Its presence on stage is always accompanied with a wide and unique repertoire mixed with compositions both from the past and the contemporary time maintaining the originality and the timeless of the old as well as the intimacy of the today’s trends. With this extensive repertoire and a playful, lively presence on stage, the ensemble has toured throughout the world, receiving enthusiastic critical acclaim. Radio France Prize for World Music – 2008 Official nomination for the UNESCO Sharjah Prize - 2006
• Kyriakos Petras - violin, Kyriakos Kalaitzidis - oud, artistic direction, Drosos
Koutsokostas - voice, luth, Alkis Zopoglou - qanun, Petros Papageorgiou – percussions.
With the participation of the folk music choir "Pavlos Vlastos".
ΤICKET: 5 €, CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRANCE
18/8 Versailles, Ispahan, Topkapi - Echoes of the baroque palaces Constantinople - (Erofili Theater - 21:30)
Constantinople invites you to join them on a journey from the Court of Versailles to the Chehel Sotoun, the Majestic Palace of Persia in Ispahan and then to Topkapι Palace seraglios of Constantinople’s Ottoman sultans. This concert, woven around the music of two great baroque composers, Marin Marais of France (1656-1728) and Demetrius Cantemir of Moldavia (1673-1723), together with Anonymous composers of Persian music from 16th and 17th Century, brings together contrasting yet harmonious musical traditions through Constantinople ensemble’s remarkable arrangements and signature improvisations.
Music from Baroque era is vivid and subtle as a butterfly. Each movement, each detail is always refined and defined in relation with every other movement. Surprisingly, similarities are abundant between French Baroque and the music developed at the Persian and Ottoman Courts.
Blending of those musical worlds, their complementarities and harmonies, results in a unique new journey that ignores time and space. Follow Constantinople on the road between Versailles Court and Topkapı Palace.
• Kiya Tabassian, setar, co-conception, Pierre-Yves Martel, viole de gambe, co-conception,
Ziya Tabassian, percussion, Didem Basar, kanun
ΤICKET: 5 €, CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRANCE
19/8 The rhetoric of the Baroque era blends with contemporary rhythm and melody - (Tholos Imbraim Han - 21:30)
Marimba, a solo instrument that belongs to the percussion family and holds its origin from Africa and Far Εast, has been widely loved by the audience and all the percussionists who have been in a pursuit of a solo career during the last decades.
Dimitris Dessylas, a Greek soloist with international reputation culminates this year’s concerts with a recital with works of J.S. Bach. The audience will have the opportunity to enjoy these pieces offered by an instrument that even if considered as a percussion, it is deeply melodic.
• Marimba: Dimitris Desyllas
ΤICKET: 5 €, CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRANCE
20/8 Αrie Amorose - (Tholos Imbraim Han - 21:30)
Arie Amorose is an Athology from the European Renaissance era and the composers who served the European Music, leading us to the Pre-classical and Classical Era.
From England and Purcell to Cyprus and Asherombasman; from Italy and Vivaldi to Germany and Handel; common lands, where love and the pain caused to lovers is present everywhere.
For the first time the famous Soprano Sonia Thoedoridou encounters Cembalist Julie Ventoura in the magical city of Rethymnon...
• Sonia Thoedoridou: Soprano Julie Ventoura: Harpsichord
ΤICKET: 5 €, CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRANCE
21/8 Erotokritos in blues / Shakespeare in love - (Erofili Theater - 21:30)
A musical performance based on: Erotokritos by Vitsentzos Kornaros as well as extracts from William Shakespeare’s works “As you like it”, “The tempest”, sonnets.
22/8 Music at the Court of Queen Elizabeth I - (Tholos Imbraim Han - 21:30)
Nikos Spanatis, counter tenor, and Katerina Ktona, harpsichord, will perform well-known songs from Shakespeare’s plays and traditional English melodies by important Elizabethan composers, such as William Byrd, John Dowland, Robert Johnson, Martin Peerson, Thomas Morley and others. The sensitive counter tenor’s voice and the gentle harpsichord sound are promising a special musical evening. Counter tenor Nikos Spanatis has performed in great concert halls and has collaborated with almost all the important baroque ensembles and orchestras in Greece. The distinguished harpsichordist Katerina Ktona, among the pioneers in the spreading of early music in Greece, continues being a leading figure in this domain. The two artists have cooperated many times in programs related to Early music, specializing in the music from the Elizabethan era up to the late baroque period, with great success.
• Νikos Spanatis: Counter Tenor
Katerina Ktona: Harpsichord
ΤICKET: 5 €, CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRANCE
23/8 Kalokyra (Erofili theater, Fortezza - 21:30)
A Cretan, renaissance story with elements from commedia dell arte and Brecht’s theatre...
• Direction & adaptation of the text: Kantifes Thomas
Music - Sound recording: Αντώνης Ζαχαράκης
Lyrics: Kantifes Thomas & Frantzeskaki Stella, Songs:
Kantife Maria, Frantzeskaki Stella, Tzagarakis Lefteris,
Kantifes Thomas
Stage decoration: Emmanouil Miltos
Costumes: Theatrikos Periplous
Sound and lights: Kanna Evi
Photographer: Gavalas Giorgos
Poster designer: Tzanidaki Anna
Production: Τheatrikos Periplous
ΤICKET: 10 €
CHILDREN, STUDENTS: FREE ENTRΑΝCE