Anabiosis

Situated between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western world, Cyprus has been shaped over centuries by diverse musical and cultural influences, converging ancient rituals with Byzantine and Medieval traditions. These elements coexist as traces within the island's soundscape, forming a continuum in which older practices are preserved, transformed, and recontextualised across time. The resonance of the ancient Cypriot dialect remains alive even today, with roots dating back to 1400 BC.

Anabiosis, meaning 'revival' in Cypriot Greek, reflects this enduring continuity and highlights the island's rich and beautiful musical heritage. Cyprus's history inspires a musical journey that explores the beginnings of notated Western music and the oral traditions of Cypriot culture. By blending early Western instruments with traditional ones, the ensemble brings together songs linked to ancient Cypriot ritual practices, Medieval repertoire from the Franco-Cypriot Codex MS Turin J.II.9, Byzantine secular music, and traditional Cypriot dances and songs.

This concert is included in the Friday Festival Day Pass (£75, accompanied u18s free). For full details of all festival pass options, including accommodation options, click the Book Tickets link.

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