Nicosia is preparing to host one of this year’s most important cultural events. On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the historic band of the “Corfu Philharmonic Society” (PALAIA 1840) will travel to Cyprus for the grand anniversary concert “CORFU – CYPRUS | From West to East. Two Islands, One Nation, One Music Full of Greece.”

The concert will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Eleftherias Square in Nicosia, with free admission, bringing more than 100 musicians from Corfu to the heart of the Cypriot capital for a musical journey between two islands connected by history, culture, and shared traditions.

The concert is held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, with the support of the Municipality of Nicosia and sponsorship from the Deputy Ministry of Culture. The media sponsor is ALPHA Cyprus, while the production is by E & I Creative Visions.

The highlight of the evening is one of Greece’s oldest and most influential musical institutions. The Corfu Philharmonic Society, known as “Palea,” was founded in 1840 and, for nearly two centuries, has been a cornerstone of musical education and tradition in Corfu and throughout Greece. Its first artistic director was the great Corfiot composer Nikolaos Chalikopoulos Mantzaros, who set Dionysios Solomos’s “Hymn to Liberty” to music, thereby gifting Greece and the Republic of Cyprus with the music for their national anthems.

It is precisely this historical connection that lends special significance to the Philharmonic’s presence in Cyprus on October 28. In the morning, the band is scheduled to participate in the official ceremonies and the parade marking the national anniversary, while that same evening, more than 100 musicians will come together on stage at Eleftherias Square, uniting Corfu, Greece, and Cyprus through music.

The concert program unfolds like a journey from West to East. It begins with the distinctive musical tradition of the Ionian Islands, moves on to the works of two iconic figures of modern Greek music, Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis, and concludes in Cyprus with a special tribute to its own musical tradition.

Three distinct artists will take part in the evening’s artistic program. The internationally renowned soprano Elena Kelesidou has had a distinguished international career, having performed for many years at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as well as at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, the Athens Concert Hall, and major opera houses abroad, and has collaborated with the legendary Plácido Domingo.

Joining her is Giorgos Davlas, one of the most recognizable figures in the field of public relations and communications in Greece, who in recent years has also been pursuing his personal dream of becoming a singer. He has already performed at major venues and events, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Athens Concert Hall, the Greek National Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera, and the Teatro Nazionale in Florence.

Rounding out the trio is the talented young Cypriot tenor Ioannis Livanos, who, despite his young age, has already left his own distinctive artistic mark in Cyprus and abroad. With performances at major European venues, such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, in Vienna, and at the Rome Opera, as well as international accolades and solo concerts in Cyprus, he has developed a strong artistic presence from a very early age, representing a new generation of Cypriot performers with their sights set on the international stage.

Also appearing as soloists in the concert are Marios Vousoulinos on trumpet and Evangelos Faitas and Konstantinos Zochios on xylophones. Athina Violari will serve as the evening’s narrator, while Spyros Prosoparis, Principal Conductor of the Corfu Philharmonic Society, will serve as music director.

The significance of this event, however, goes beyond that of a mere grand concert. Bringing a historic musical ensemble of this magnitude to Cyprus, along with its musicians and instruments, is a particularly ambitious cultural undertaking. The goal is to transform Eleftheria Square, for one night, into a vast, open space dedicated to historical memory, music, and culture, offering the public a high-quality experience completely free of charge.

With the majestic sound of the orchestra filling the heart of Nicosia on the national holiday, “KERKYRA – CYPRUS” aims to be a rare and deeply symbolic gathering. An evening that brings nearly two centuries of Corfu’s musical history to Cyprus and unites, through music, two islands bound by strong ties of history, memory, and culture.

CORFU – CYPRUS | From West to East

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

7:00 p.m.

Eleftherias Square, Nicosia

Free admission

Musical Director: Spyros Prosoparis

Singers: Elena Kelesidou, soprano; Giorgos Davlas and Ioannis Livanos, tenors

Soloists: Marios Vousoulinos, trumpet; Evangelos Faitas and Konstantinos Zochios, xylophones

Narration: Athina Violari

Production: E & I Creative Visions

Communications Sponsor: ALPHA Cyprus