Magical Night

Cyprus, Nicosia, Pallas Theatre, Pafos Gate

Thursday, 14 & Friday, 15 May 2026, 20:30

HONORARY MEDAL PRESENTED TO MARIA FARANTOURI DURING THE TRIBUTE CONCERT TO MIKIS THEODORAKIS

The Republic of Cyprus honoured Maria Farantouri with the Medal for Outstanding Contribution, as a token of appreciation, respect, and gratitude for her distinguished artistic career, her deep-seated love for Cyprus, and her enduring contribution to Greek cultural creativity. “You are a voice with a conscience. A presence that serves culture with integrity, dignity, and humanity. A woman who has given voice to freedom, democracy, justice, and peace,” said the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth of Cyprus, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, as she presented the award to the Greek singer on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

The minister made special mention of Maria Farantouri’s voice and interpretations, which left an indelible mark on the local and international music scene, making a universal impact on culture, staunchly defending freedom, transforming music into resistance and hope, into an art form that became a refuge and a source of strength for people, as well as into her ethos. She thanked the singer for her presence at political and social events during trying times for Greece and expressed the gratitude of the Cypriot people for M. Farantouri’s deep and genuine connection to Cyprus, supporting the call for justice. “Thank you for everything you represent. Thank you for reminding us that music does not belong solely to culture. It belongs in many ways to the human soul,” concluded Ms. Michaelidou.

Next, Maria Farantouri, accompanied by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the internationally renowned Greek conductor, Myron Michaelides, performed excerpts from the Odyssey, the final song cycle composed by Mikis Theodorakis. The first part of the concert concluded with the ballet suite Hellenic Carnival, a work that characteristically captures Mikis Theodorakis’s creative assimilation and transformation of Greek folk music. In the second part, the renowned singer performed well-known and beloved songs by the great composer, offering a Magical Evening to the Cypriot audience, who honoured her in their own way by filling the hall and giving her a standing ovation.

Maria Farantouri’s authentic interpretations, the arrangements by the distinguished musicians Antonis Sousamoglou and Lazaros Tsavdaridis, the power of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, and the interpretive vision of conductor Myron Michaelides offered a unique musical journey, highlighting the multifaceted work of Mikis Theodorakis, from the deeply human and familiar Mikis to the preeminent Greek composer of global renown.

The concert was repeated the following evening and was filmed by RIK. The concerts were honoured by the presence of the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, AKEL’s Parliamentary Spokesman, Yorgos Loukaidis, the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Pruntzos, the Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, Yorgos G. Papayeorghiou, the Director General of RIK, Thanassis Tsokos, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Gaston Hadzianastassiou, as well as members of the ISOK Board of Directors.

Programme | Works by Mikis Theodorakis
Well-known and iconic songs
Seven songs from the Odyssey cycle, poetry | Kostas Kartelias
Arrangements | Antonis Sousamoglou, Lazaros Tsavdaridis
Greek Carnival – symphonic suite

Maria Farantouri | vocals
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Myron Michaelides | conducting