24th Pafos Aphrodite Festival opens with Gaetano Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore

The 24th Pafos Aphrodite Festival officially commenced on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Medieval Castle of Kato Paphos. The event featured a performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s popular opera, "L’Elisir d’Amore" (The Elixir of Love), presented by the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Prior to the opening, cast members including choreographer Ara Asaturyan, soprano Silva Petrosyan (Adina), and set designer Olga Orfinady visited the Paphos Music School. They held an educational session with students, discussing the complexities of staging a major opera production, character development, and the professional collaboration required for such performances.

The festival, which draws thousands of spectators from Cyprus and abroad, utilizes the historic site of the Medieval Castle as an open-air stage. This production highlights the enduring cultural partnership between Cyprus and Armenia, emphasizing the role of Paphos as a significant Mediterranean artistic hub. The opera, known for its mix of humor and romance, explores timeless aspects of human nature through its narrative of relationships and expectations. The event reinforces the festival's ongoing mission to foster appreciation for operatic arts among younger generations.