“From Cycladic figurines to the aerosculptures of the future”
At the Bazeos Tower from 21 July to 2 September 2007, daily
At: 10:00 – 17:00

Inspired by the marble sculptures of the Cycladic civilisation, the contemporary works by German sculptor Ingbert Brunk and the futuristic aerosculptures by innovative artist Ioannis Michaloudis are part of the ground-breaking exhibition organised by the AEON Cultural Organisation, in conjunction with the Museum of Cycladic Art.
The combined presentation of these works highlights the inexhaustible artistic influence of the Cycladic civilisation and its ageless aesthetic, without losing sight of the composite significance, function and symbolism of the ancient objects that differentiate them from works of art with a contemporary approach.
This exhibition, with its special aesthetic concept, is hosted in a venue appropriate to embrace the reconsideration of the venture. Thus a visit to the 17th-century Bazeos Tower, located in the Naxian hinterlands, where the island’s annual cultural Festival has taken place since 2001, becomes a unique experience.
Exhibition curator: Mario Vazeos, with the kind contribution of Art Historian Katerina Koskina. Academic consultant:  Dr. Peggy Sotirakopoulou, Archaeologist, Curator of the Museum of Cycladic Art. 
Sponsor: The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation.
Supported by:
Karpontini Bros - Naxos Marbles
I. Kontopidis Sons - Naxos Marbles

Inauguration of the exhibition by the Rector, Prof. Helene Ahrweiler. A lecture will follow on the theme “Naxos in the Cyclades world”.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Naxos Festival is fine-tuning its image by presenting its most representative programme to date. It is a high quality programme compatible with the aesthetic and ideological imperatives of our time, and always in search of something analogous in relation to place and time.
Bella ciao, La Strada, Senso, Lucino Visconti, Federico Fellini, Italo Calvino, Luigi Pirandello, canzonetta, tarantella, opera, terra ca nun senti and Nino Rota are some of the music, terms and characteristic names representative of Italian culture that have received international recognition.
This year their scope extends as far as the Cyclades, to Naxos and the Bazeos Tower, reminding us of a historic event,* and flanking it culturally.
It has been eight hundred years since the Duchy of Naxos was established, since 1207, when the Venetians moved into the Cyclades. This anniversary gives the island’s annual cultural festival an opportunity to allow the Italian style of art to permeate its events as a reciprocal influence, which likewise expresses the multicultural nature of every contemporary society.

Stelios Krasanakis
Artistic Director

*In the 13th century, the cohesion of the Byzantine Empire was tested by rising Venetian naval supremacy. In 1207 the Venetians took advantage of their power to occupy the Cyclades and to establish an island state modelled on feudal Europe in the Middle Ages. The Duchy of Naxos, or of the Archipelago, remained autonomous for 350 years, before being subjugated by the Ottoman Empire; but its echo continued to influence the evolution of the island community.

At: 21:30
“Bella ciao” Concert with the Carousel music group
The Mediterranean, the sea that unites peoples and cultures, is a wellspring of inspiration for Carousel. They travel on its European shores with a programme that includes songs from Italy (canzonettas, tarantellas, traditional, Greek-language, etc.), Portugal, Spain and Corsica, as well as the songs of N. Rota and N. Piovani.
Feni Nousia: voice, percussion -Marialena Spinoula: voice, percussion - Makis Papagavriel: voice, percussion, guitar - Giannis Alygizakis: guitar -Giannis Georgantelis: accordion

At: 21:30
“Gelsomina” by Pierrette Dupouet - Played by: Olia Lazaridou
(Free adaptation of the Federico Fellini film La Strada). Adaptation by Olia Lazaridou and Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou - Directed by: Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou
Sets-costumes: Socrates Socratous - Music: K. Vita
Olia Lazaridou plays Gelsomina, the heroine of the story of the same name, which was based on the celebrated film La Strada and written with the collaboration of Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina.

At: 21:30
“Terra ca nun senti”. Concert by Savina Giannatou
A musical voyage around the Mediterranean starting from Italy.
Savina Giannatou, the main representative of ethnic music in Greece, presents selected traditional Mediterranean songs focused on Italy, with contemporary and inventive orchestrations and performances by the top musicians that accompany her. Constantinos Vomvolos, Constantinos Theodorou, Michalis Signaidis, Harilaos Lambrakis.

At: 21:30
“Invisible cities” by Italo Calvino
Directing-dramaturgy: Elena Timplalexi.
In the role of narrator-Marco Polo: Eva Koukoutsi.
Production based on Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and on the voyages of Marco Polo, with references to Venice. A Naxos Festival production.

Ώρα: 20.00
“Ο Μάρκο Πόλο στις Αόρατες Πόλεις”

Προσαρμογή της προηγούμενης παράστασης για τους μικρούς μας φίλους. Ένα παιχνίδι με μουσική, θέατρο και ζωγραφική, που θα ενθαρρύνει τη συμμετοχή, την φαντασία και τη δράση των παιδιών.

At: 21:30
“Baroque: Italian passion”.  Recital by Sonia Theodoridou, featuring 17th-century love arias.  Piano: Nikos Tsalikis
Sonia Theodoridou, a soprano with an international career, has appeared in the greatest lyric theatres in the world. Antique Arias are arias from the 17th century, a period distinguished for the sensuousness of its musical multiplicity and for its erotic passion. This recital presents an anthology of works by Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Giordani, Pergolesi, Paisiello, Caccini, Carrissimi and others, heard in an authentic 17th century estate, the Bazeos Tower.

At: 21:30
“Insenso” by Dimitris Dimitriadis, Played by: Roula Pateraki
Theatrical performance inspired by the novelette Senso by Camilo Boito, and the film of the same name by Lucino Visconti.
Director: Stelios Krasanakis - Sets-costumes: Giorgos Patsas - Naxos Festival Production, premiere.
D. Dimitriadis recently completed the theatrical monologue “Insenso”, retaining the main characters: the Venetian countess Livia Serpieri and the Austrian officer Franz Mahler. A Naxos Festival production.

At: 21:30
“Six characters in search of Mr Pirandello”
Devised theatre performance based on the work by the outstanding Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello, played by the Aeon Dramatherapy group, directed by Lorenzo Amato who also was responsible for the dramaturgy.

Tribute to Nikos Kazantzakis

Monday 20 August “Margounos, garden” at Engares 
At: 20:30
Musical-literary evening. Maria Farantouri performs the song cycle “Captain Michalis” by Manos Hadjidakis, with lyrics by Gerasimos Stavrou, based on the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis.
Actress Aleka Paizi reads excerpts from Kazantzakis’ works. Piano: Irina Valentinova. Introduction – selection of texts: Kyriaki Petrakou, Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies, University of Athens, and Vice-President of the Greek Branch of the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis.
A Naxos Festival production.