LIMASSOL, CY: The TrakArt Pops Orchestra opened its first season with two glamorous concerts. The first show, "Κυπρίων Έργα" ("Cypriot Works") - a concert with fresh arrangements of songs and instrumental works by prominent Cypriot composers - featured Cypriot stars Michalis Hatzigiannis and Kostas Hadjichristodoulou, as well as upcoming stars Mariam Venizelou, Andreas Aroditis, Riana Athanasiou, and George Ioannou. The concerts took place on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 at the Strovolos Municipal Theater in Nicosia and the Pattihio Municipal Theater in Limassol. The concerts were a big success and the audience gave the orchestra a warm standing ovation.
The second set of concerts was produced in collaboration with the Diastasis Cultural Association and featured the internationally renowned composer and virtuoso pianist Stefanos Korkolis, who set C. P. Cavafy's poetry to music. The composer performed with the orchestra on the piano and his songs were sung by the exceptionally talented Sofia Manousaki. The concert also featured the children and mixed choirs of the Diastasis Cultural Association. The concerts took place on Nov. 16 at the Strovolos Municipal Theater in Nicosia and on Nov. 17 at the, nearly sold out, Pattihio Municipal Theater in Limassol.
TrakArt Pops Orchestra is a newly founded pops orchestra that aims to bring high-quality performances of alternative orchestral music to the Cypriot audience. The orchestra operates under the umbrella of the TrakArt Culture Development Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2016 by friends of art and culture. Since the orchestra's formation in 2021, Aris Antoniades has been the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the ensemble.
The orchestra's next big event is the Disney-themed staged concert Wish Upon A Star with singers George Perris, Mariza Rizou, Aliki Chrysochou, Andreas Aroditis, and Riana Athanasiou.