Corfu News

The Corfu "Old" Philharmonic Orchestra performed Requiem with Patras Polyphonic Choir. The 2008 Easter celebrations in Corfu town had an added significance for its citizens: their beloved philharmonic orchestra played Luigi Cherubini's Requiem No 1 at the Corfu Municipal Theater on Saturday, April 19, accompanied by the Patras Polyphonic Choir. The performance was repeated on Monday, April 21st, at Patras, the third largest city in Greece.

The Corfu Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos-Mantzaros in 1840 to play during the Holy Mass at the cathedral of Agios Spyridon in Corfu, after bands were banned from playing at non-Protestant religious services by Queen Victoria (Corfu was under British rule during that period). The famous Corfu Orchestra had the privilege to play the Olympic Hymn during the revival of the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens as well as to perform during the torch-lighting ceremony of the Athens Olympics 2004.