Cyprus is tucked away in the eastern Mediterranean corner and is believed to have emerged from the sea some 20 million years ago like its goddess Aphrodite who rose from the sea's foam off the island's coast.

The strategic position of the island, at the crossroads of three continents has played a major role in its history. It has seen many conquerors; various cultures and important personalities pass by leaving their mark for centuries. This rich past is evident in the numerous archaeological findings, ancient Greek temples, castles, Roman Theatres, Venetian walls and Byzantine churches.

There is currently no opera or ballet troupe on the island, but there are rather spectacular opera performances which are staged with both local and international artists and companies. As there is no opera house, the medieval and ancient sites create interesting open-air stages.

The Famagusta Gate Moat in Nicosia which is surrounded by Venentian walls provided the spectacular setting for the production of Donizetti's opera Caterina Cornaro in September 2004. There was a strong local cast with the Cyprus State Orchestra under the artistic and musical directorship of Cypriot conductor Ayis Ioannides.

Each September, the Aphrodite Opera Festival is staged in Kato Paphos with The Medieval fort providing the giant backdrop and is considered to be the main artistic event organized in the Paphos Castle each year. The sounds of the breaking waves at the back of the castle add to the natural scenic beauty.

The Paphos Aphrodite Festival was established in 1998 in order for the five organizations in Paphos District to synergize and promote Paphos as an international centre for major cultural events. During September 1999, the Bolshoi Opera Theatre staged Verdi's Aida and in 2000, the same company presented Bizet's masterpiece, Carmen. Other companies who visited the island to stage operas for the festival include Poland's Teatr Wielki for 2 years and the famed Italians from Arena di Verona.

This year, in its seventh year of running, the first three days of September will see a production of Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" produced and performed by the Mariinsky Theatre of St Petersburg.

Another major Opera Festival has been planned by the Pharos Trust which is a non-profit cultural and educational foundation established in 1998 dedicated to the promotion of a wide range of activities in the fields of humanities and arts. The Opera Festival proposed by the Trust, is envisaged to be created on a different scale and catering to a different audience than those attending the Paphos Aphrodite Festival. So far, Paphos has produced Puccini and Verdi romantic operas which appeal to a wide audience.

The Pharos Opera Festival will initially specialize in Baroque Opera and focus on operas with Greek mythological and classical themes. The singers and orchestras will be selected from the best in the field with the main goal of the project being to promote the participation of local artists in opera productions and to utilize the Cyprus State Orchestra.

Based on the excellence of the planned productions, it is envisaged by the Pharos Trust, that the operas could then be "exported" contributing to the promotion of the island's national ethnicity through intercultural co-operation, while simultaneously projecting a new artistic image for the country.

The first opera is to be a joint production of Handel's "Arrianna in Creta" with the Opera Festival of Ancient Corinth in Greece and the Basel Chamber Orchestra playing on authentic period instruments. The Pharos Trust is currently awaiting support from corporate sponsors.

By nurturing and developing an opera (and ballet) company in Cyprus, rather than relying on expensive one-off productions, the talented singers whom we have will not be forced to leave the country to further their careers, but to rather contribute to our cultural development and provide a platform for future generations.