“NENA VENETSANOU IN CLELIA’S COURTYARD”

The Nicosia International Festival 2025, in collaboration with the friends of Clelia Petridou, presents on Friday, 3 October 2025, at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre (20:30), the musical performance Nena Venetsanou – In Klelia’s courtyard, featuring the renowned singer and composer Nena Venetsanou.

The evening is dedicated to the memory of Klelia Petridou, musician and architect, who passed away in April 2023. The choice of Nena Venetsanou is particularly meaningful, as Klelia was one of her admirers. The concert will include songs that shaped the musical evenings of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, such as “Apanemia”, “Prasini Grammi”, and “Epea Pteroenta”. Venetsanou will perform a repertoire of Greek, Smyrnaic, island folk, and New Wave songs.

Clelia Petritou: A life of contribution
Clelia Petridou left an indelible mark on the cultural and social life of Nicosia, giving the city a musical identity, since with her voice and her guitar, she breathed life into old Nicosia, transforming courtyards, small venues, and neighbourhoods into spaces of collective memory and cultural expression.

At the same time, as an architect and tireless and discreet advocate, she dedicated her efforts to improving accessibility for people with disabilities, fighting against isolation and exclusion. Living with multiple sclerosis, she was actively involved in the disability rights movement. As Director of the Office for Accessibility Design (2002), she played a decisive role in improving the built environment and in establishing the Regulation on accessibility. Her work remains a valuable legacy for a fairer, more inclusive society.

Nena Venetsanou
With vocal studies in Paris, she was for many years the muse of Manos Hadjidakis, who famously said of her: “She balances intelligently between folk and classical song, without ever losing her sensuality, she is a complete voice.”

Nena Venetsanou is one of the most important figures of Greek quality song. She has intertwined her music with poetry, theatricality, and the female perspective, with works that honour Greek culture both at home and abroad. In addition to Manos Hadjidakis, she has collaborated with some of Greece’s greatest composers and performers: Mikis Theodorakis, Nikos Mamangakis, Notis Mavroudis, Ilias Andriopoulos, Alkistis Protopsalti, Michalis Terzis, Nikos Kypourgos, Giannis Markopoulos, and Mariza Koch, among others. She has also been honoured for her contribution to peace and culture.
 
Credits
 
Nena Venetsanou
Guitar: George Tossikian
Santouri: Veronika Aloneftis
Percussion: Solis Barki
Accordion: Dimos Vougioukas
 
Duration: 1:30΄
Age group: All audiences
 
Tickets:
Available online via Soldout Tickets: http://bit.ly/4grNxB8, at Stephanis stores and the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00).
 
Ticket prices:
 
VIP: €16/ €18
ZONE A: €13/ €15
ZONE B: €10/ €12
ZONE C: €10
ΖΩΝΗ Δ: €10
 
Reduced tickets are valid for: Children, students, soldiers, pensioners, large families, actors, people with disabilities (free) with presentation of relevant ID.
 
Information: 22797979 (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00) & http://bit.ly/3VjZ0ZG
 
Festival identity
Organisers: Nicosia Municipality, Nicosia For Art
Festival sponsors: OPAP Cyprus, more.com, Italian Embassy, Cyprus Public Transport
Supporters: Travelhouse, UCLan Cyprus, WINECORE,  Gate Twenty Two Boutique Hotel, Classic Hotel Nicosia
Media sponsors: DIAS Publishing & SIGMA TV, LOVE FM 100.7, and “KATHIMERINI” newspaper