- Welcome
- Organisation
- Performances
- Excibitions
- Side Events
- Media
- Participants
- Information
The 24th Renaissance Festival of Rethymno invites you to become protagonists, mystics and co-creators, inspirers and co-travellers in an enchanting route through the past, full of music, theatrical expression and motion.
In the heart of the summer, Rethymno greets famous vocal ensembles from Europe and the world, as well as theatrical groups, representative of Renaissance era, in order to accompany us at this remarkable wandering that is taking place in Present, aiming to establish a live dialog with the distant Past and to enrich our relationship with the Arts.
The opening and closing ceremonies of this top-flight festival, which offer us every year generously the opportunity of a healthy inner transformation reflecting and renewing our daily round, are dedicated this year to Mother Earth. The Culture along with Environment, the spiritual production along with natural richness, and the elements of human substances along with the elements of Nature coordinate to reinforce our unbreakable and ancient bonds with Earth that gives us Life.
The coincidence of the Renaissance Festival and the International Chess Tournament introduces also Sport in this large Festivity which brings out the identity of our place and defines our identity and our insistence in resisting mediocrity with activities which honour Culture and its diverse expressions.
The Mayor of Rethymno
Giorgis Ch. Marinakis
Municipal Counilor for Culture & Tourism
Pepi Birliraki Mamalaki
The 2010 Festival remains faithful to our hope to weave creatively the bonds between past and present times and to revitalize the way of approaching arts and science in connection to our relationship with nature (which has been among the basic quests of artists in the era of European Renaissance). Having as starting point early music, we aim at the revitalization and support of cross cultural exchange among different kinds of art, different civilizations through different eras.
The focal point of the festival is the first natural and most loved musical instrument, the human voice. Our journey to early music will be mostly through performances and concerts where vocal music, movement and theatrical performance will create a unique artistic experience. Our companions to this journey will be the dramatic vocal ensemble Romeo & Julia Kören, the ensemble Fuoco E Cenere with puppetry by Bruno Leone, the Μegaron Orchestra, Μegaron Orchestra, Camerata of the Friends of Music, on period instruments with Music direction by George Petrou and soloists Μary-Ellen Nesi, Lenia Safiropoulou, Kristina Hammarströem, Irini Karaianni, Gemma Bertagnolli, Petros Magoulas, the Orchestra Il Fondamento with Music direction by Paul Dombrecht and soloist Liesbeth Devos, the musicians Pierre Hamon, Marc Mauillon, Vivabiancaluna Biffi, Angélique Mauillon, as well as the Choreographer and dancer Anne Martin. During the closing ceremony of the International Open Chess Tournament, we will enjoy the transition from the baroque period to the pre-classical music (style galante), as well as the early classical music with the Salzburg Mozart Quartet.
Wishing to stimulate, and promote youth creativity (not only!), we will offer Portrait Figure Drawing Classes in Renaissance Style.
We will enjoy the theatre plays "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, "Liogeniti" by Giorgis Kalogerakis, "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare, "The Phantom Lady" by Pedro Calderón, "La Locandiera" by Carlo Goldoni. The opening and closing ceremonies, designed and realized by volunteers, play a significant role in the Festival.
Concluding, our festival planning was based upon the intention to attract children and their families, so that they participate in their "own organization". We would like to offer a quality festival, which children and adults will attend with pleasure, in order to enjoy themselves, learn and be the festival's protagonists!
Artemis Papadaki
in charge of the planning and the organization
of the Renaissance Festival of Rethymno
Schedule of Events and Performances
Meeting point - El. Benizelou Beach (former name Lavirinthos)
Course: El. Benizelou - Ioul. Petichaki - Palaiologou – Rimondi – Messologiou – Melissinou – Katehaki - Fortezza
Ends in Erofili theatre: Theatrical play "The Tempest" by William Shakespear, performed by Theatrikos Periplous
Fire purifies. Water relieves.
Earth heals… ! Earth remedies!
Fire!
It came from our dreams, purgatorial, luminary, an essence of creation, and of destruction. We keep it in out city with wisdom and respect.
This year will reanimate again the flame of the Rebirth, giving life to the lighthouse - which is one of the symbols of our city- at the Venetian Port, and will come in luminous procession to the center of the shore.
Water! Eternal adverse of fire.
Spouts of water in a celebration of life, the be rhyme the ability of the humans to tie in with the elements of the nature. Our bodies, created in the element of water, will course like a living river, and will meet with Fire.
Together, the two elements will welcome Earth.
The Mother of all of us! The one who gave birth to us, nourishes, and harbors us.
We hold with the power of the nature which does not give in, which is matter of the substance of the Creation. The physical aspect of a spiritual world.
Mother Earth, welcome!
The beginning of the period in which the elements take form and physical body and go about between us, is announced.
In their honor, the humans will walk to Fortezza, and will animate in theater stories of elements and apparitions.
Romeo & Juliet Choir
Music by Monteverdi, Campion, Farmer, Janequin, di Lasso, da Nola, Del Encina and others.
Idea and plot by Benoît Malmberg
Direction: Benoît Malmberg.
The Romeo & Julia Kören (Romeo & Juliet Choir) is a dramatic vocal ensemble based at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. Since its founding in 1991 the Kören has gained an international reputation as guardian and renewer of the rich musical treasure of the Renaissance. Zefiro torna is the Madrigal Comedy-production in two acts. The first act reveals amorous adventures and is devoted to music by the late Renaissance vocal master Claudio Monteverdi. The second half revives music by such great composers as Campion, Farmer, Janequin, di Lasso, da Nola, Del Encina etc. Musical pieces are combined, evoking a story within the performance. The Romeo & Julia Kören gives theatrical expression to the European musical heritage effectively offering audiences a new and inspiring experience.
Except for a number of performances at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and other places all around Sweden, Zefiro torna has also been performed 2008-2010 in Kaliningrad, Vilnius, New York, Harstad, Dubrovnik and is going on a two-weeks long tour to the USA in April 2010.
Fuoco E Cenere Ensemble.Jay Bernfeld Direction
Mathieu Abelli Ténor.
Birthplace of Farinelli, Enrico Caruso and Tito Schipa, home of Scarlatti and Pergolese, the world has long turned to the sun drenched city for thrilling music, from the villanesche alla napoletana which delighted all of Europe in the 1500s to the celebrated Neapolitan songs carried around the world by Caruso.
True to its name (Fire and Ash) Fuoco E Cenere breathes new life, phoenix-like, into forgotten masterpieces. Fuoco E Cenere is led with brio by Jay Bernfeld, widely acclaimed as soloist and chamber musician. His complicity with the art of singing and his fascination for the written and spoken word are reflected in the Fuoco E Cenere's highly original repertoire.
The interpretations of Fuoco E Cenere magnify image and expression of superb musical and poetic texts, enabling them to shock the public by their beauty..
Fuoco E Cenere Ensemble.Jay Bernfeld Direction.Daphné Touchais Sopran .Bruno Leone Puppetry.
Although Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's skill as a composer of sacred music was remarked while still a student in Naples, the young man's farrest reaching influence would soon make itself felt in the world of the theatre. After a particularly catastrophic earthquake devastated Naples Pergolese vowed to return to the world of sacred music and created his Stabat Mater, the most often printed score of the 18th century.
In far off Paris his comic operas inspired quarrels, le Querelle des Bouffons- which pitted fans of Italian opera buffo against the aficionados of the serious French works of Lully and Rameau.
Pulcinella and Pergolese: two of Naples favorite sons were forever linked when Igor Stravinsky penned his ballet in 1920. Noisy, impolite and oh! So politically incorrect the puppet Pulcinella has delighted audiences the world over The antics of Pulcinella and the hauntingly melodic sonorities of Pergolesi breathe new life into the age-old Commedia dell'Arte!
Theatrical Group of Teachers of Secondary Public Schools (ELME) of the Heraklion Prefecture
Fortunatos ('lucky') by Markos Antonios Foskolos is one of the three surviving comedies of the Cretan Renaissance theatre (the other two are Katsourbos by G.Hortatsis and Stathis), and is perhaps the most "theatrical" of all because of its descriptive means, the comic characters, and its direct way of expression. It is written in the eastern Cretan dialect of the time, during the period that Turks besieged the Venetian city of Candia-Kastro. It comes down to us through the manuscript of the poet himself, which is dated around 1655. We have a lot of biographical information about Markantonios Foskolos, thanks to the tireless research of the main researcher of his work, Mr. Alfred Vincent.
The opera of G.F. Handel Alessandro Severo belongs to the so-called "pasticcio" type..
No, it has nothing to do with the famous Greek food...but with a composition whose components are musical parts of previously written works. Most precisely Alessandro Severo is Handel's second (the first one is the opera Orestis) "pasticcio work" composed exclusively from the composer's previous works. Thus it is a new opera, in which, apart from the arias and orchestral parts that derive from Handel's previous operas, the beautiful introduction (overture), the dramatic recitative with strings (recitativo accompagnato), and the dialogue parts that help the story to unravel (recitativi secchi),accompanied by the basso continuo, are all new music.
The story of the opera takes place in Rome, in 225 B.C., when the 16 year old new emperor Alessandro Severo, marries the young Salustia, daughter of a patrician. Giulia, Alessandro's mother, fearing that she will lose her authority, leads Salustia with deceit in exile, opposing her son's will. It is a story full of Roman political and emotional intrigues, dressed with the most beautiful music of Handel that he himself chose from his large musical oeuvre.
Αlessandro: Μary-Ellen Nesi
Salustia: Lenia Safiropoulou
Giulia: Kristina Hammarström
Albina: Irini Karaianni
Claudio: Gemma Bertagnolli
Marziano: Petros Magoulas
Μegaron Orchestra, Camerata of the Friends of Music
on period instruments
Music direction
George Petrou
Il Fondamento Οrchestra.Paul Dombrecht & Direction & Oboe.Liesbeth Devos Soprano.
Whoever is asked to name three household names of the Baroque will no doubt come up with those of Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. But do we really know their gems beyond the surface? Bach's first Orchestral Suite in C Major (BWV 1066A), for instance, is generally performed from a Leipziger score dating from 1724/5, even though recent research has pointed towards earlier origins in Cöthen, and to a slightly different instrumentation.
And what about Handel's Concerto Grosso in B flat Major, opus 3 no. 2 (HWV 313)? Its first and third movements are based on the composer's Brockes Passion and thus merit to be played with lyrical fervour. Finally, there is the religious legacy of Antonio Vivaldi: a stunning and technically challenging universe of both celestial and earthly passions, here represented by the solo motets "In fuore iustissimæ iræ" (RV 626) and "Nulla in mundo pax sincera" (RV 630), and the Sinfonia in B minor "Al santo sepolcro" (RV 169). In this concert, Il Fondamento and Liesbeth Devos will defy the narrow borders between the vocal and orchestral, bringing you fresh and shiny renderings of seemingly familiar jewels.
Anne Martin Choreography and dance.Pierre Hamon Direction and flute.Marc Mauillon Voice.Vivabiancaluna Biffi Vielle and voice.Angélique Mauillon Gothic harp
The work Remède de fortune (Remedy of Fortune) by Guillaume de Machaut is probably the most important French poem about love of the XIV century. Its influence has been considerable in the whole Europe as poetic and musical model. It is on the turning point from the troubadour and trouvere tradition towards the new era, with the newborn musical polyphonic forms of the XV century. The story is about a poet, in love with a noble woman. He complains to Fortune for not being brave enough to talk to her. But suddenly, Esperance (Hope) comes and gives him the courage to believe in his love for the lady. In this presentation the Complainte, the longest piece among the others, where the poet complains to Fortune, is dressed with a special event of a contemporary dance creation. Contemporary body language in counterpoint with a 14th century's poetical and musical work will reveal a magic artistic experience where movement, human and instrumental voice and silence will give place to each other.
The CD won the Diapason d'Or of September 2009 and the Diapason d'Or of the year 2009.
Text: Giorgis Kalogerakis.Dramaturgy-Direction: Antonis Diamantis.Settings: Kostas Makakis.Music composed: Nikos Mastorakis.Choreography: Giouli Grigoraki.Production: Omma Studio Theatre and Giorgos Kalogerakis.
"Liogeniti" is a perfromance based on one of the most famous Greek traditonal poems (Paralogi), found in various areas of Greece. Giorgos Kalogerakis, a writter from Rethymno, rewrote it , in a theatrical form, using the Cretan dialect idiom.
Studio Omma Theatre (Iraklio,Crete) presents this story in the form of a fairy tale. The story takes place in a museum of
Modern Art, where the heroes become alive after closing time.
The play is a comment, of the Studio Omma Theatre, on the relation between tradition and contemporary life.
DIPETHE Roumelis
Text-Translation: Ερρίκος Μπελιές
Direction: Κώστας Γάκης - Βασίλης Μαυρογεωργίου
Settings-Costumes: Αγνή Ντούτση
Choreography: ΄Ελενα Γεροδήμου
Music: Κώστας Γάκης
Lights: Μελίνα Μάσχα
Assistant Director: Τάσος Αγγελόπουλος - Βάσια Ατταριάν
It is really shocking that while reading The Merchant of Venice now, in 2010, someone realizes with horror how well timed and contemporary the work is.
Money, loans, exploitation, usury: these are the central issues of the story, the same that we listen to in the news programs and we read in the newspapers every day.
THE HELLENIC TOURING CLUB of RETHYMNO in cooperation with the YOUTH THEATRE OF RETHYMNO present the work by CALDERÓN DE LA BARCA"The Fantom Lady"
Text-Translation: K. Karthaiou
Direction-Music: Manolis Zaharakis
Settings: Manos Tsakonas
Assistant Scenography: George Pediavitakis
Costumes: "Seirini" - Eirini Siragaki
Lights: George Prinarakis
Choreography: Vasia Sakelariou
Make up: Ferentini Staurianaki
Stage Director: Antreas Papadakis
Staring: Nikos Alexandrinos, Aspasia Mataxaki, George Pediavitakis, John Paterakis, Charoula Stamateraki, Vasilis Fratzeskakis, John Kokonas, Nansy Diomantaraki, Nancy Karamanly
"5th SEASON" presents "The Mistress of the Inn", a comedy by Carlo Goldoni.
This 2010 performance is arranged and directed by Themis Moumoulidis, stage designed and costumes by George Patsas, music by Thodoris Economou, choreographed by Elena Gerodimou and lighting by Nikos Sotiropoulos.
"THE MISTRESS OF THE INN" is one of the most important plays of the Italian playwright. In this new staging proposal by "5th SEASON", the comedy unravels into various places and times transporting the spectator to different eras.
Direction: Themis Moumoulidis
Settings-Costumes: George Patsas
Music: Thodoris Oikonomou
Choreography: Elena Gerodimou
Lights: Nikos Sotiropoulos
Staring: Renia Louizidou, Kostas Kochlas, Alexandros Mpourdoumis, Tasos Giannopoulos, Marianthi Fotaki, Aggelos Mpouras
Gaea
We welcomed and cherished her in our city. For 15 days and nights she healed our wounds, gave birth to new ideas and defined a new course in our lives.
Tonight she reveals her secrets, in a festivity of myth and dream in the heart of the Old Town at Mikrasiaton Square.
We praise her
O Goddess, Earth, of Gods and men the source,
Endured with fertile, all destroying force;
All-parent, bounding, whose prolific powers,
Produce a store of beauteous fruits and flowers,
All-various maid, the eternal world's strong base 5
Immortal, blessed, crowned with every grace;
From whose wide womb, as from an endless root,
Fruits, many-formed, mature and grateful shoot.
Deep blossomed, blessed, pleased with grassy plains,
Sweet to the smell, and with prolific rains. 10
All flowery daemon, centre of the world,
Around thy orb, the beauteous stars are hurled
With rapid whirl, eternal and divine,
Whose frames with matchless skill and wisdom shine.
Come, blessed Goddess, listen to my prayer, 15
And make increase of fruits thy constant care;
With fertile Seasons in thy train, draw near,
And with propitious mind thy suppliant hear.
We thank her and promise to keep her sacred into the "Temple of Existence" - together with Fire and Water - for ever...
Exhibitions
Retrospective Exhibition of works by Eleftheria Drosaki in Rethymno
12-15 July
The Center for the Study of Contemporary Pottery in cooperation with artist Chryoula Skepetzi, cutates the retrospective exhibition of works by Eleftheria Drosaki, Hands on the ground, in Rethymno, under the aegis of Municipality of Rethymno. The artist's work is austere and plain or rich and earth-born. The viewer is attracted straight towards the earth of valleys, of agricultural work, of every kind of destination, of Hesiod, as well as of mystic verses. Mrs. Drosaki, while laying her hands on the ground, listens to the voice of earth, the mother of life and death. She expresses her images and her dreams using the tools, which History offers to travellers.
On Wednesday the 21st Mrs Drosaki will read fairytales to the children in the area of the excibition.
'Children in Renaissance Painting through the children's eyes'
13-26 July
Children from the English School 'Schedia' run by Helen Hamogiorgaki are writing down in a short note the impression made on them after getting a glimpse of children of another time, depicted in paintings of Great Renaissance Painters. The presentation in the form of Video-Art was accomplished after the children came in touch with the principles of the Renaissance Period and how they are connected with the spirit of the Ancient Greek Civilisation. The whole project was performed in the English Language.
Painting exhibition by Argiroula Valari Saounatsou
Crete International School of Art.Tim Saville BA London (teacher, καθοδήγιση).Janice Hunter BA, MA Glasgow (teacher, καθοδήγιση).Rosina Bonsu, dancer and choreographer (μοντέλο)
13/15/19/21 July 10:30-12:30 & 17/24/25 July 18:00-20:00
"Learning to draw is really a matter of learning to see, to see clearly that is, which means a great deal more than merely looking with the eye" Kimon Nikolaidis
The practical drawing sessions will examine the human form. In an ambient environment you will be introduced to the techniques and compositions of the Renaissance Master draughtsmen. The spirit of rebirth inherent in Renaissance thinking reflects the regenerative force of the Earth and will be explored through the moving model.
Experience is not a prerequisite for joining these classes – whether you are beginning your artistic journey or you are experienced, under the personal guidance of the tutors you will be encouraged to extend your visual awareness and explore the elements which make up the sensitive, analytical and demonstrative drawing, so characteristic of the Renaissance.
Side Events
The Early Mozart- The infant prodigy from Salzburg.Mozart Quartett Salzburg & Dionysis Grammenos, clarinet
20 July
The renowned Mozart Quartett Salzburg performs the finest chamber music from the Mozart city of Salzburg in its very own impressive style. Refreshing and enjoyable music by the 14 year old genius, like his first String Quartet KV 80 and his "Salzburger Divertimento" KV 136 sound like treasures of the early quartet repertoire by Johann Christian Bach and Giovanni Battista Sammartini - both of them composers who have met and grown to appreciate in Milan and London the travelling child prodigy.
The highlight of the evening will be Mozart's famous "Stadlerquintett" KV 581 with the participation of Greek clarinet virtuoso Dionysis Grammenos, whose golden clarinet sound is a balsam for the soul.
'Children in Renaissance Painting through the children's eyes'
14&21 July
How was the earth made? What is there inside it? How were the animals born? How do seasons change? Why did a renaissance knight travel so far to find the love of an arrogant princess? What is the world's most beautiful story? An original fairytale show mixed with music and songs, which take us on a journey to different worlds.
A musical story-telling invites the audience to explore the mysterious paths of improvised instruments and the sounds of the earth. "kat-ART-i", the Artist Association for the promotion of Art, introduces a different way of interactive fairy tale performance aiming to make the children experience a deeper contact with fairytales. Moreover, it offers them the opportunity to take part, act and react.
The video of the 2009 Renaissance Festival of Rethymno
Download the 2009 PDF programme to your computer.
Download the 2008 PDF programme to your computer.
We discover how creative we could be by participating to the 2008 Renaissance Festival. We all discover skills and found the chance to activate them.
This year, the Water in 2009 festival lead us to a creative ocean. We share again the joy of participate, CONTRIBUTE to your city.
Come with us...
Contributors
- General co-ordination - costumes: Takis Hasikos
- Direction: Ιosif Vardakis
- Music direction: Αntigoni Arampatzoglou, Thanasis Papathanasiou, Fones tou Notou, Municipal Choir
- Dance direction: Elina Panaretaki
- Town Decoration: Τakis Hasikos, cultural association “Skies”
- Set direction: Μanolis Skevakis, cultural association “Alloi”
- Artwork: “Fos Nichtos” (Ν.Stauridakis/Ch.Psarra)
- Video Art: DesignGraphic.gr (VJ ProGra)
Participants
- The dance school “Chorokinisi” with Vasias Sakelariou
- The dance school “Ballet e Dance” with Chrisoula Rodino team
and over 200 anonimous vollenteers.
Contact / Information
Municipal Cultural Office
- L. Kountourioti, Rethymno, 74100
- 28310 88279 (88337) / 28310 88337 (ΦΑΞ)
- politismos@rethymno.gr | www.rethymno.gr
Buying Tickets in Advanced and Information
- MUNICIPAL INFO KIOSK Tessaron Martiron Square. For theatre Erofili.
- MUNICIPALITY CASHIER 9:00-13:00. For Neratze Mosque Conserts.
- FORTEZZA THEATRE “EROFILI” one hour prior to each performance. Tel. 28310 28101
- NERATZE MOSQUE (Odeon)- OLD TOWN one hour prior to each performance. Tel. 28310 22724.
We kindly ask you to come to the area where the performances will take place at least 15 minutes before the performance begins.
The conserts at Neratze Mosque (Odeon) do not have numbered seats.
It is strictly forbidden to move chairs in the places where performances are held.
In the area of the fortress there is a refreshment bar. Please do not carry food or drink into the theatre during performances.
Free admission for all performances by the Municipality for children up to the age of 17, with the exception of performances where tickets are distributed by the theatre company.
Students are kindly requested to present their student cards when purchasing tickets and upon entering theatre areas.
Once performances have begun, seat numbers in the Theatre Erofili are no longer valid.
In the event of cancellation of a performance due to weather conditions or other dire circumstances, ticket-holders will be informed accordingly by the press for the return and reimbursement of their ticket or the possibility of postponing the performance another date.
...also
Tourist and Travel Agents' Association of Rethymno, Elaioemporiki ΟΕΕ and BCS - Benakis - Koutrakis ΟΕ
