CAMDEN CYPRIOT FESTIVAL 1991 (this was recorded at the Jazz Cafe)
An amazing musical evening -- within the context of 3 evenings of "Music of the Mediterranean" held at Camden's Jazz Cafe, which also featured Yeni Turku from Turkey, and Ross Daly with the Vasilis Soukas Band from Greece -- this, the Cypriot musical evening which was featured at London's Camden Town -- was truly historic.
Opening the evening, is a set by Martha and Eve (the artists formerly known as Donna & Kebab) with their full jazz ensemble, named 'Meze' ... perform many memorable songs including their own rendition of Marios Tokas' song "Exartate" (which had always been one of their favourite pieces in past performances) ... and a song they wrote specifically for the Festival ... "Kypros - Cyprus"
One of the 'core events' of the festival, this full concert by Marios Tokas at the Jazz Cafe as a leading singer songwriter and artist of great repute in Cyprus (who sadly died in April 2008) and in Greece, where he composed music for many leading performers ... this release of material from the 1991 concert is made to honour his spirit, celebrate his memory, and commemorate his life, on a weekend when a London concert is being staged in Marios Tokas' memory, on 23rd November 2008.
In this concert Marios Tokas leads from his piano and also plays his haromonica, supported by Andri Costandinou and Costas HadjiChristodoulou.
In addition to being a musical 'tour-de-force' this concert is historical in that this occasion was the first ever meeting between Marios Tokas with the poet whose lyrics he had picked to write music for, for a song which has become a second 'national anthem' for Cypriots of Maronite, Armenian, Russian, Turkish, and Greek CYRIOTS the world over.
In addition to this being a recording of their first ever meeting, the evening features a full recital of "My Country has been divided in Two, which of the two should I love" by Nese Yasin recited in Turkish, and the more commonly known 'refrain' is sung by Andri Costandinou and Costas Hadji-Christodoulou and ends with Marios Tokas and Nese Yasin singing together in both Greek and Turkish lyrics .... and the audience, of Cypriots and their friends, have been singing this song ever since!
Video archives from other events staged during the two week Camden Cypriot Festival in 1991 are in process of being uploaded during 2009 to mark the current political initiative begun by President Demetris Christofias, President of Cyprus, to seek a "Cyprus Solution by Cypriots for Cypriots".
Held during 23rd June to 7th July 1991, other events featured as part of the Festival included: (links will be added to subsequent items as they are uploaded)
Festival Opening, Press Conference at Camden's Jazz Cafe.
"Fun Sunday in the Park" -- at Camden Square. Traditional music, dancing, childrens' play performance of "Turtles", Cypriot food, donkey rides, other activities.
Photographic Exhibition at the Crowndale Centre
Conference on Cypriots and the British Media, at Camden Town Hall.
Conference on the Cultural Aspects of the Cyprus Problem, at Camden Town Hall. http://www.archive.org/details/CamdenCypriotFestival1991ConferenceonCultureandCoexistenceinCyprus_0
Evening of poetry at Covent Garden's "Apples and Snakes". http://www.archive.org/details/CypriotArtsForumPoetryatApplesandSnakes-CamdenCypriotFestival1991
Performance by a Turkish Cypriot Theatrical Group, Maras Emek, at the Camden Centre.
Performance of a contemporary play by Peter Polycarpou, "Cypriot Graffiti" , presented as a rehearsed reading at the Hampstead Theatre.
Performance of Lysandros Pytharas' "Logoteknia" multimedia event, at the Hampstead Theatre. http://www.archive.org/details/LysandrosPitharasLogoteknia-CamdenCypriotFestival1991
Film showing of "Detail in Cyprus" by Panikos Chrysanthou and Niyazi Kizilyurek at Camden's Parkway Cinema.
An evening of choral signing by London's Byzantine Choir at Agios Pantes Cathedral.
Three evenings of Mediterranean Music:
Martha and Eve of Donna and Kebab fame presenting their jazz band "Meze", at the Jazz Cafe. An evening of original music by Cypriot musician, composer and performer "Marios Tokas", at the Jazz Cafe. (THIS item)
Traditional and modern music by "Yeni Turku" group from Turkey, at the Jazz Cafe.
An evening of traditional Greek and Middle Eastern music by "Ross Daly" and the "Vassilis Soukas Band" from Greece, at the Jazz Cafe.
Festival closing party at the Jazz Cafe, with poetry and music performances.
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