Lefkosia: Tuesday 30 June 2026 – Nicosia Municipal Theatre, 20:30 At the heart of this brilliant and celebratory concert, which marks the closing event of the cultural programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, stands the legendary virtuoso pianist Cyprien Katsaris, an internationally celebrated artist who holds a distinguished place in international musical life. Joining him is the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra under the direction of its new Artistic Director, the internationally acclaimed conductor Myron Michailidis. An ideal work to open the concert is Dawn on the Parthenon by Solon Michaelides, an important figure in Greek and Cypriot musical creation. In this work, the ideas of light, serenity, and the gradual revelation of a landscape are transformed into a richly evocative musical atmosphere. The pianistic artistry of Cyprien Katsaris has earned international recognition not only for its dazzling virtuosity, but also for its intensely personal artistic identity. He is one of the very few musicians of Cypriot origin to have achieved such international prominence while maintaining such enduring prestige on the world concert stage. Internationally celebrated for his authoritative interpretations of Franz Liszt, Katsaris will captivate audiences with his incomparable brilliance, poetic sensitivity, and electrifying virtuosity in the dazzling works of the Hungarian composer: Fantasy on Themes from the Incidental Music “The Ruins of Athens” by Ludwig van Beethoven and the Hungarian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra . In the Fantasy on Themes from “The Ruins of Athens” by Beethoven, Franz Liszt transforms thematic material from the famous incidental music into a brilliant work for piano and orchestra, dominated by imagination, virtuosity, and creative musical elaboration. At the same time, the Hungarian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra reveals Liszt’s close affinity with rhapsodic writing, pianistic brilliance, and the Hungarian musical idiom of the nineteenth century. Closely connected to the world of the Hungarian Rhapsodies , the work conveys a characteristic blend of formal freedom, vibrant rhythm, theatrical contrasts, and extroverted energy. The second half of the programme presents a feast of famous dances from the symphonic repertoire, forming a brilliant mosaic of European musical styles and traditions by composers such as Johann Strauss II, Georges Bizet, Johannes Brahms and Antonín Dvořák. The world-famous Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms combine emotional immediacy, powerful rhythmic character, and exceptional compositional mastery, while the Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvořák are original compositions inspired by Slavic dance forms. Dances such as the “Navarraise” from the ballet suite Le Cid by Jules Massenet and the “Aragonaise” from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet evoke the brilliance of the French musical tradition. The Viennese creations of Johann Strauss II radiate elegance and festive spirit, while the Kleftikos Dance by Nikos Skalkottas highlights Greek traditional dance elements through a distinctive and highly personal orchestral language. The programme concludes with the United Nations March by Robert Stolz, adding a distinctive ceremonial dimension to this festive evening. PROGRAMME Solon MICHAELIDES: Dawn at the Parthenon Franz LISZT: Fantasy on motifs from Beethoven’s Ruins of Athens, S. 1 Franz LISZT: Hungarian Fantasy for piano and orchestra Marc Antoine CHARPENTIER: Prelude from Te Deum Jules MASSENET: Navarraise from ballet suite Le Cid Georges BIZET: Aragonaise from the opera Carmen Johannes BRAHMS: Hungarian Dance no. 5 Antonín DVOŘÁK: Slavonic Dance no. 8, op . 46 Johannes BRAHMS: Hungarian Dance no. 4 Antonín DVOŘÁK: Slavonic Dance no. 15, op . 72 Johann STRAUSS: Thunder and Lightning Polka, op. 324 Johann STRAUSS: Voices of Spring , op. 410 Nikos SKALKOTTAS: Kleftikos from 36 Greek Dances Robert STOLZ: United Nations March Cyprien Katsaris, piano Myron Michail