Marios Joannou Elias to debut Sound of Shanghai in Nicosia

Cypriot composer Marios Joannou Elias is set to present his audiovisual project 'Sound of Shanghai' at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on June 10, 2026. The work serves as the opening event for the Chinese Cinema Week in Cyprus, marking both the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and China. Created over a period of 18 months, the project explores the concept of translating an urban environment into musical form. The production involved over 250 musicians, including the National Orchestra of China, and required the cooperation of more than 30 organizations in Shanghai. Elias served as the composer, artistic director, and producer, incorporating field recordings, traditional Chinese music elements, and city sounds into a contemporary composition. The project also included collaboration with Chinese scientific institutions, involving unique data collection methods such as the recording of the composer's brain activity during his stay in Shanghai.