The Pafos Aphrodite Festival 2025 lifts its curtain this September with one of opera's most enduring masterpieces: Georges Bizet’s Carmen. One hundred and fifty years after its stormy Paris premiere, the work will come to life before the Medieval Castle of Pafos in two open-air performances on 5 and 6 September at 7:30 p.m.
This year’s production will be staged by the Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre, in collaboration with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1851 and housed in a sumptuous neo-Moorish theatre in Georgia’s capital, the company has long been the cradle of Georgian cultural identity, where opera, ballet, and national tradition intertwine. Named after composer Zacharia Paliashvili, the father of Georgian classical music, and home to the celebrated State Ballet led by Nina Ananiashvili, the Tbilisi Opera brings to Pafos not only top-tier artistry but also a living legacy of resilience and cultural prestige.
Timeless Power of Carmen
At a press conference held at the Alexander the Great Hotel, organizers emphasized that Carmen’s enduring popularity lies not only in its irresistible melodies, such as the Habanera and the Toreador Song, but also in its daring themes. Through the story of its independent and defiant heroine who claims the right to love and to live freely, the opera raises timeless questions of fate, freedom, passion, and the limits of human desire.
Despite being rooted in 19th-century Paris, Carmen continues to carry a relevance that feels immediate and modern, touching audiences of every age and background. The staging before the imposing Medieval Castle, with the sea as a natural backdrop, heightens both romance and theatrical intensity, ensuring an unforgettable experience.
A City Shaped by Culture
In his address, Pafos Mayor and Chairman of the Festival Board, Phedonas Phedonos, underlined that in the past decade the city has transformed into a modern hub guided by clear vision and strategy. Culture, he stressed, is not an accessory but a partner in this endeavor. The revival and strengthening of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival, he said, serve the strategic aim of balanced and sustainable growth, bringing international prestige and tangible benefits not only for Pafos but for Cyprus as a whole.
Reflections on Carmen’s Spell
Conductor and composer Aris Antoniades reminded that this year marks 150 years since Carmen’s controversial 1875 premiere, initially met with outrage before later being recognized as a masterpiece. What keeps the opera alive today, he explained, is first and foremost its heroine: a woman who asserts her independence, refuses submission, and chooses freedom even at the cost of death.
Alongside her story, Antoniades noted, are the universal passions of love, jealousy, obsession, and death, themes that transcend time and place. The unforgettable finale, in which public celebration collides with private tragedy, still shocks modern audiences, offering a powerful commentary on society itself. And at the heart of it all is Bizet’s music, now woven into collective memory, still bewitching new generations.
Cultural Diplomacy
Ani Udzilauri, Consul of Georgia in Cyprus, praised the cultural encounter between two nations with deep histories and rich traditions. Speaking in fluent Greek, she emphasized that while Cyprus and Georgia are small in size, both possess immense cultural wealth rooted in antiquity that secures them a distinguished place on the global map.
Cyprus, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, and Georgia, the ancient homeland of Medea, stand as sources of timeless inspiration for art. From sculpture and painting to literature, opera, and cinema. Hosting the Tbilisi State Opera in Pafos, she said, is therefore more than a performance; it is a dialogue between civilizations that share a profound artistic inheritance.
A Festival with Social and Cultural Capital
Dr. Christina Michael, Assistant Artistic Director of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, highlighted the Festival’s role over the years in attracting tens of thousands of spectators, who enjoy world-class performances in Cyprus. Particularly in times of challenge, she added, festivals serve an essential social role alongside their artistic one, enriching cultural and civic capital.
Institutional sponsor of the Festival is the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, with media sponsorship from Bank of Cyprus and OPAP Cyprus. Savvas Papathomas, representing Bank of Cyprus, stressed that the Festival places Pafos firmly on the cultural map of Europe.
Tickets and Information:
Ticket sales are available via Ticketmaster Cyprus and all ACS outlets. New this year is a premium €120 ticket, which includes access to a post-performance reception (food and drink) as well as the Festival’s collectible program. Availability is limited and early purchase is advised.