THE ABDUCTION OF BEAUTIFUL HELEN
Music and libretto by Polis Charalambous
La Scala de Paphos at Paphos Academy of Fine Arts
Tuesday 19 December 7pm
Tickets: €10
Box Office: Tel: 26937670
A new opera sung in Greek with the English text in the programme notes.
Cast: Beautiful Helen: Antigoni Theodorou, Paris: Alexis Charalambous, Tindareo: Takis Manolis, Menelaos: George Antoniou, Klitemnistra: Chrysoula Pentara, Timandra: Elena Agrotou, Odysseus: Matheos Ataliotis, Penelope: Antri Vlotoma, Destinies: Christina Lambrou. Tasia Sarika, Dora Zaggoulou, A messenger: Christos Andreou, B messenger: Loukia, C messenger: Maro Filippou, Competitors: George Taliotis, Fanos Polydorou, Christakis Taliotis, Andreas. Andreas Petrou, Servants: Karlina Ierokipioti , Alexandra Matheou, Orpheous Choir. We will use play back instead of symphony orchestra.
The Opera is based on ancient Greek history. At the Palace of the King of Sparta, Tyndale’s’ many competitors try hard to show their skills, so that they may impress Beautiful Helen and be the one that her father, the King, chooses as her husband. Helen is the daughter of Tyndareo but it is widely thought that the actual father is Zeus, the leader of all Gods, after being transformed into a Swan and meeting with his mistress Lida. Many great names are there at the Palace, such as Odusseus, Eas, son of Telamon and many others pursuing Helen. They also chase her sisters Klytemnistra, wife of Agamemnon and Timandra. Agamemnon is the King of Mykines and brother of one of the suiters, Menelas, who is finally chosen by King Tyndareo as the husband for Helen. While this fiesta is taking place, the Prince of Troy, Paris appears, as he was invited by the Palace. Paris is astonished by the beauty of Helen and he is trying hard to resist being one of the suitors. This doesn’t last long, as an urgent message is given to Menelaos, that his father has died in Crete. So, singing a sad aria, announces that he has to go to Crete for the funeral of his father. This is the moment that Prince Paris is waiting for. He takes Helen, who is also impressed by his beauty, and they return to Troy.
Directions: Head into town from the Debenhams roundabout and turn right at the two Dima lighting shops, then left at the kiosk just past Dominos Pizza and immediately right and the venue will be found on the right. LA SCALA DE PAPHOS, Paphos Academy Of Fine Arts, Thedios Street, Paphos. Tel: 26937670 / 99632346. Email: babaji@cytanet.com.cy.
