The 14th Annual Festival of the Aegean, founded in 2005 by Greek-American Conductor/Producer/Artistic Director Peter Tiboris and popularly dubbed “The Salzburg of the Aegean,” has opened on Greece’s Island of Syros.

This year, the festival will celebrate Rossini on the 150th anniversary of his death performing “La Cenerentola” and the “Stabat Mater.”

Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” is set to star soprano Marilena Striftombola as Clorinda, tenor Damir Zakirov as Prince Ramiro, mezzo-Soprano Tamara Gura as Angelina, and mezzo-Soprano Miranda Makrynioti as Tisbe.

Meanwhile, Maestro Peter Tiboris will conduct Rossini’s “Stabat Mater,” as well as a grand opera gala, which stars Eliana Lappalainen, Gian Luca Pasolini, and Carry Persson.

The festival will also showcase symphonies, ballet, jazz, lieder and choral ensembles by 350 artists.  The festival runs from July 15 to 29, 2018.