Editing Corfu (section)

==Culture==
Corfu has a long musical, theatrical, and operatic tradition. The operas performed in Corfu were at par with their European counterparts. The phrase "applaudito in Corfu" (applauded in Corfu) was a measure of high accolade for an opera performed on the island. The [[Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù]] was the first theatre and [[opera]] house of modern Greece and the place where the first Greek opera, [[Spyridon Xyndas]]' ''The Parliamentary Candidate'' (based on an exclusively Greek [[libretto]]) was performed.

=== Museums and libraries ===
[[File:Gorgon at the Artemis temple in Corfu.jpg|thumb|The [[Gorgon]] as depicted on the western [[pediment]] from the [[Temple of Artemis (Corfu)|Temple of Artemis]], on display at the [[Archaeological Museum of Corfu]]]]

The most notable of Corfu's museums and libraries are located in the city; these include:<ref name="Libraries and Museums from City Hall website">{{cite web |url=http://www.corfu.gr/en/tourism/archives.htm |title=Libraries and Museums from the City Hall website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106230632/http://www.corfu.gr/en/tourism/archives.htm |archive-date=6 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

*[[Archaeological Museum of Corfu|The Archaeological Museum]], inaugurated in 1967, was constructed to house the exhibit of the huge [[Gorgon]] [[pediment]] of the [[Temple of Artemis (Corfu)|Artemis temple in the ancient city of Korkyra]], excavated at Palaiopolis in the early 20th century. The pediment has been described by ''[[The New York Times]]'' as the "finest example of [[Archaic Greece|archaic]] temple sculpture extant".<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |last=Frommer's Review |title=Archaeological Museum |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/greece/ionian-islands/corfu/28285/archaeological-museum/attraction-detail.html |access-date=26 September 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811102300/http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/greece/ionian-islands/corfu/28285/archaeological-museum/attraction-detail.html |archive-date=11 August 2011}}</ref> [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] had developed a "lifelong obsession" with the Gorgon sculpture, dating from seminars on Greek Archaeology the Kaiser attended while at the [[University of Bonn]]. The seminars were given by archaeologist [[Reinhard Kekulé von Stradonitz]], who later became the Kaiser's advisor.<ref name="Röhl1998"/> In 1994, two more halls were added to the museum, where new discoveries from the excavations of the ancient city and the Garitsa cemetery are exhibited.
*The [[Museum of Asian art of Corfu]] is located at the [[Palace of St. Michael and St. George]] (mainly Chinese and Japanese Arts); its unique collection is housed in 15 rooms, taking in over 12,000 artifacts, including a [[Greco-Buddhist art]] collection that shows the influence of [[Alexander the Great]] on Buddhist culture as far as [[Pakistan]] (see [[Greco-Buddhism]]).
*The [[Banknote Museum]], located in [[Saint Spyridon|Aghios Spyridon]] square, features a complete collection of Greek banknotes from independence to the adoption of the [[euro]] in 2002.
*The [[Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa]], a church converted into a museum featuring rare Byzantine art.
*[[Kapodistrias Museum]]. Ioannis Kapodistrias' summer home in Koukourisa in his birthplace of Corfu has been converted to a museum commemorating his life and accomplishments and has been named in his honour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bistika |first1=Eleni |date=22 February 2008 |script-title=el:Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας και 180 χρόνια ελληνορωσικών διπλωματικών σχέσεων, στο Κέντρο Ευρωπαϊκών Σπουδών... |trans-title=Ioannis Kapodistrias and 180 years of Greek-Russian diplomatic relations, at the Center for European Studies... |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/opinion/708234/ioannis-kapodistrias-kai-180-chronia-ellinorosikon-diplomatikon-scheseon-sto-kentro-eyropaikon-spoydon/ <!--former URL at http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_1_22/02/2008_260236--> |work=[[Kathimerini]] |language=el |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211081314/https://www.kathimerini.gr/opinion/708234/ioannis-kapodistrias-kai-180-chronia-ellinorosikon-diplomatikon-scheseon-sto-kentro-eyropaikon-spoydon/ |archive-date=11 December 2024 |script-quote=el:Η γενέτειρά του Κέρκυρα, ψύχραιμη, απολαμβάνει το προνόμιο να έχει το γοητευτικό Μουσείο Καποδίστρια στη θέση Κουκουρίσα{{nbsp}}... εξοχική κατοικία με τον μαγευτικό κήπο της οικογενείας Καποδίστρια, που η Μαρία Δεσύλλα – Καποδίστρια δώρισε στις τρεις κερκυραϊκές εταιρείες |trans-quote=His birthplace, Corfu, cool, enjoys the privilege to have the charming Museum Kapodistria in the location Koukourisa{{nbsp}}... summer residence with the enchanting garden of the Kapodistrias family, which Maria Dessyla Kapodistria donated to the three Corfiote societies }}</ref> Donated by Maria Desylla Kapodistria, grand niece of Ioannis Kapodistrias, former mayor of Corfu and first female mayor of Greece.
*The Music Museum of the [[Philharmonic Society of Corfu]] is located in the building of the Philharmonic Society and features scores, instruments, paintings and documents related to the music history of Corfu and the 19th-century Ionian Islands.
[[File:Corfu library at Palaio Frourio.jpg|thumb|Corfu library at Palaio Frourio]]
*The Public Library of Corfu is located at the old English Barracks, in Palaio Frourio.
*The Reading Society of Corfu has an extensive library of old Corfu manuscripts and rare books.
*The [[Serbian Museum of Corfu]] ({{Langx|sr|Српска кућа}}, ''Serbian House'') houses rare exhibits about the Serbian soldiers' tragic fate during the [[First World War]]. The remnants of the Serbian Army of about 150,000 soldiers together with their government in exile, found refuge and shelter in Corfu, following the collapse of the Serbian Front as a result of the [[Austro-Hungarian]] attack of 6 October 1915. Exhibits include photographs from the three years stay of the Serbians in Corfu, together with other exhibits such as uniforms, arms and ammunition of the Serbian army, Serbian regimental flags, religious artifacts, surgical tools and other decorations of the Kingdom of Serbia.
*Solomos Museum and the Corfiot Studies Society.

===Patron Saint Spyridon===
[[File:Carrer i campanar de l'església de sant Espiridó, Corfú.JPG|thumb|The bell tower of the [[Saint Spyridon Church]] can be seen in the background among the busy {{Transliteration|grc|kantounia}} of the city centre. On top of the stores are apartments with balconies. It is from these type of balconies that Corfiots throw ''botides'', clay pots, to celebrate the Resurrection during Easter festivities.]]

[[Saint Spyridon]] the [[Thaumaturgy|Thaumaturgist]] (Miracle-worker, Θαυματουργός) is the [[patron saint]] (πολιούχος) of the city and the island. St. Spyridon is revered for the miracle of expelling the plague (πανώλη) from the island, among many other miracles attributed to him. It is believed by the faithful that on its way from the island the plague scratched one of the fortification stones of the old citadel to indicate its fury at being expelled; to St. Spyridon is also attributed the role of saving the island at the [[Siege of Corfu (1716)|second great siege of Corfu in 1716]].<ref name="Holland2012">{{cite book |author=Robert Holland |title=Blue-Water Empire: The British in the Mediterranean since 1800 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QRXc7pr9DQC&pg=PT506 |date=26 January 2012 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-1-84614-555-1 |page=506}}</ref><ref name="Freely2008">{{cite book |author=John Freely |title=The Ionian Islands: Corfu, Cephalonia and Beyond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9VIBAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA44 |date=30 April 2008 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-0-85771-828-0 |page=44}}</ref> The legend says that the sight of St. Spyridon approaching Ottoman forces bearing a flaming torch in one hand and a cross in the other caused [[panic]].<ref name="History of Corfu"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Essential Corfu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=38kVAQAAMAAJ |year=1995 |publisher=AA Publishing |isbn=978-0-7495-0921-7 |page=11 |quote=A dreadful storm - coupled with the rumour that St Spyridon was threatening the Turkish army with a flaming torch - broke the Turks' ...}}</ref><ref name="Lor1978">{{cite book |author=Michael Pratt, Lor |title=Britain's Greek Empire: Reflections on the History of the Ionian Islands from the Fall of Byzantium |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ekkAAAAYAAJ |year=1978 |publisher=[[Rex Collings]] |isbn=978-0-86036-025-4 |page=47 |quote=refers to the 1716 siege, when Spyridon is meant to have frightened away the Turks;}}</ref> The legend also states that the Saint caused a tempest which was partly responsible for repulsing the Ottomans.<ref name="FacarosPauls2007">{{cite book |author1=Dana Facaros |author2=Michael Pauls |title=The Greek Islands |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qaRK8RM3Z0cC&pg=PA450 |year=2007 |publisher=New Holland Publishers |isbn=978-1-86011-325-3 |page=450}}</ref> This victory over the Ottomans, therefore, was attributed not only to the leadership of Count [[Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg|Schulenburg]] who commanded the stubborn defence of the island against Ottoman forces, but also to the miraculous intervention of St. Spyridon. Venice honoured von der Schulenburg and the Corfiots for successfully defending the island. Recognizing St. Spyridon's role in the defence of the island Venice legislated the establishment of the litany (λιτανεία) of St Spyridon on 11 August as a commemoration of the miraculous event, inaugurating a tradition that continues to this day.<ref name="History of Corfu"/> In 1716 [[Antonio Vivaldi]], on commission by the republic of Venice, composed the [[oratorio]] [[Juditha triumphans]] to commemorate this great event. ''Juditha triumphans'' was first performed in November 1716 in [[Venice]] by the orchestra and choir of the [[Ospedale della Pietà]] and is described as Vivaldi's first great oratorio.<ref name="Baroque music">{{cite web |url=http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html |title=Baroque Music |access-date=20 October 2007 |archive-date=26 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126191907/http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxvivaldi.html |url-status=dead}} ''As far as his theatrical activities were concerned, the end of 1716 was a high point for Vivaldi. In November, he managed to have the Ospedale della Pietà perform his first great oratorio, Juditha Triumphans devicta Holofernis barbaric {{sic}}. This work was an allegorical description of the victory of the Venetians (the Christians) over the Turks (the barbarians) in August 1716.''</ref>
Hence Spyridon is a popular first name for Greek males born on the island and/or to islanders.

===Music===

====Musical history====
[[File:Manzaro.jpeg|thumb|left|upright|[[Nikolaos Mantzaros]], major representative of the [[Ionian School (music)|Ionian School of music]]]]

While much of present-day Greece was under Ottoman rule, the Ionian Islands enjoyed a Golden Age in music and opera. Corfu was the capital city of a Venetian protectorate and it benefited from a unique musical and theatrical heritage. Then in the 19th century, as a [[Protectorate|British Protectorate]], Corfu developed a musical heritage of its own and which constitutes the nucleus of modern Greek musical history. Until the early 18th century, musical life took place in city and village squares, with performances of straight or musical comedies – known as Momaries or Bobaries. From 1720, Corfu became the possessor of the first theatre in post-1452 Greece. It was the Teatro San Giacomo (now the City Hall) named after the nearby Roman Catholic cathedral (completed in 1691).<ref>Corfu the Garden Isle, editor Frank Giles, John Murray 1994, {{ISBN|0-7195-5375-X}}</ref>

The island was also the center of the [[Ionian School (music)|Ionian School of music]], the musical production of a group of Heptanesian composers, whose heyday was from the early 19th century till approximately the 1950s. It was the first school of classical music in Greece and it was a heavy influence for the later Greek music scene, after the [[Greek War of Independence|independence]].

====The three Philharmonics====
[[File:Corfu Marching Band.JPG|thumb|A marching band from [[Austria]], a frequent visitor, through the Corfu landmark of {{Interlanguage link|Liston (square){{!}}Liston|it|3=Liston}}. In the background is the western arch of the [[Palace of St. Michael and St. George]].]]

Corfu's Philharmonic Societies provide free instruction in music, and continue to attract young recruits. There are nineteen such marching wind bands throughout the island. <br />Corfu city is home to the three most prestigious bands – in order of seniority:
*the [[Philharmonic Society of Corfu]] use dark blue uniforms with dark red accents, and blue and red helmet plumes. It is usually called the ''Old Philharmonic'' or simply the ''Paliá'' ("Old"). Founded 12 September 1840.
*the [[Nikolaos Mantzaros|Mantzaros]] Philharmonic Society use blue uniforms with blue and white helmet plumes. It is commonly called the ''Néa'' ("New"). Founded 25 October 1890.
*the [[John Capodistria|Capodistria]] Philharmonic Union use bright red and black uniforms and plumes. It is commonly called the ''Cónte Capodístria'' or simply the ''Cónte'' ("[[Count]]"). It is the juniormost of the three (founded 18 April 1980).
All three maintain two major bands each, the main marching bands that can field up to 200 musicians on grand occasions, and the 60-strong student ''bandinas'' meant for lighter fare and on-the-job training.

The bands give regular summer weekend promenade concerts at the Spianada Green [[gazebo|"''pálko''"]], and have a prominent part in the yearly Holy Week ceremonies.

====Ionian University music department====
[[File:Ionian University Music Laboratory.jpg|thumb|The music lab of the Ionian university located at the old fortress]]
Since the early 1990s a music department has been established at the [[Ionian University]]. Aside from its academic activities, concerts in Corfu and abroad, and musicological research in the field of Neo-Hellenic Music, the Department organizes an international music academy every summer, which gathers together both international students and professors specialising in [[Brass instrument|brass]], [[strings (music)|strings]], singing, [[jazz]] and [[musicology]].

===Theatres and operatic tradition===
====Teatro di San Giacomo====
{{Main|Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù}}
[[File:KerkyraDimarheio.jpg|thumb|[[Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù]] was the first theatre and opera house of modern Greece.]]

Under [[Republic of Venice|Venetian rule]], the Corfiotes developed a fervent appreciation of Italian opera, which was the real source of the extraordinary (given conditions in the mainland of [[Greece]]) musical development of the island during this era.<ref name="BirthofGreekopera">[http://www.donizettisociety.com/Articles/ArticleMantzaros/BirthofGreekopera.pdf Birth of Greek opera Paper] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016155757/http://www.donizettisociety.com/Articles/ArticleMantzaros/BirthofGreekopera.pdf |date=16 October 2015 }} Kostas Kardamis "San Giacomo and Greek ottocento"XI Convegno Annuale di Società Italiana di Musicologia [[Lecce]], 22–24 October 2004</ref> The opera house of Corfu during the 18th and 19th centuries was the [[Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù|Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo]], named after the neighbouring Catholic cathedral; it was later converted into the City Hall.<ref name="BirthofGreekopera"/> It was both the first theatre and first [[opera house]] of Greece in modern times and the place where the first Greek opera (based on an exclusively Greek [[libretto]]), [[Spyridon Xyndas]]' ''The Parliamentary Candidate'' was performed.<ref name="BirthofGreekopera"/> A long series of local composers, such as [[Nikolaos Mantzaros]], [[Spyridon Xyndas]], [[Antonio Liberali]], [[Domenico Padovani]], the [[Zante|Zakynthian]] [[Pavlos Carrer]], the [[Lambelet]] family, [[Spyridon Samaras]], and others, all developed careers intertwined with the theatre.<ref name="BirthofGreekopera"/> San Giacomo's place was taken by the Municipal Theatre in 1902, which maintained the operatic tradition vividly until its destruction during [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|German air raid]] in 1943.<ref name="BirthofGreekopera"/>

The first opera to be performed in the San Giacomo was in 1733 ("[[Hiero I|Gerone]], [[tyrant|tiranno]] di [[Syracuse, Sicily|Siracusa]]"),<ref name="BirthofGreekopera"/> and for almost two hundred years, between 1771 and 1943, nearly every major opera from the [[Italian culture|Italian]] tradition, as well as many others from Greek and French composers, were performed on the stage of the San Giacomo; this tradition continues to be reflected in Corfiote operatic history, a fixture in famous opera singers' itineraries.<ref name="History of the theatre">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204022549/http://www.corfu.gr/en/profil/theatro.htm History of the theatre] from Corfu cityhall</ref>

====Municipal Theatre of Corfu====
{{Main|Municipal Theatre of Corfu}}
[[File:Kerkyra old theatre.jpg|thumb|The Municipal Theatre of Corfu, which in the early 20th century replaced the legendary Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo. This photograph shows the theatre prior to the 1943 [[Luftwaffe]] bombardment and its subsequent destruction during WWII.]]
[[File:New Municipal Theatre of Corfu (2).jpg|thumb|The new municipal theatre]]

The [[Municipal Theatre of Corfu]] ({{langx|el|Δημοτικό Θέατρο Κέρκυρας}}) was the main theatre and [[opera house]] in Corfu.<ref name="History of the municipal theatre">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204022549/http://www.corfu.gr/en/profil/theatro.htm History of the municipal theatre] from Corfu cityhall</ref> Opened in 1902, the theatre was the successor of [[Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù]] which became the Corfu city hall. It was destroyed during a [[Luftwaffe]] aerial bombardment in 1943.<ref name="History of the municipal theatre"/>

During its 41-year history, it was one of the premier theatres and opera houses in Greece, and as the first theatre in Southeastern Europe,<ref name="History of the municipal theatre"/> it contributed to the arts and to the history of the [[Balkans]] and of Europe.<ref name=Horton>{{cite book |last=Horton |first=John Joseph |title=Yugoslavia |year=1990 |publisher=Clio Press |editor=John Joseph |edition=2 |isbn=978-1-85109-105-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yc4UAQAAIAAJ&q=Municipal+Theatre+of+Corfu |quote=The addition of the Greek island of Corfu to the south, where the declaration of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was made at the municipal theatre in 1918 |page=12}}</ref><ref name="History of the municipal theatre"/><ref name="HirstSammon2014">{{cite book |author1=Anthony Hirst |author2=Patrick Sammon |title=The Ionian Islands: Aspects of their History and Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CdIxBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 |date=26 June 2014 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-6278-3 |page=343 |quote=After 1818, when an opera composed by Rossini was first scheduled for presentation in Corfu, operas by Rossini predominated over works composed by earlier or contemporary artists. This development reflected a general change in Europe, clearly illustrated by the performance of Wagner's Lohengrin in Italian for the inauguration of the new Municipal Theatre of Corfu (1902)}}</ref> The archives of the theatre, including the historical San Giacomo archives, all valuables and art were destroyed in the Luftwaffe bombing with the sole exception of the stage curtain, which was not in the premises the night of the bombing and thus escaped harm; among the losses are believed to have been numerous manuscripts of the work of [[Spyridon Xyndas]], composer of the first opera in Greek.<ref name="History of the municipal theatre"/>

===Festivities===
====Easter====
On [[Good Friday]], from the early afternoon onward, the bands of the three Philharmonic Societies, separated into squads, accompany the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Epitaph processions]] of the city churches. Late in the afternoon, the squads come together to form one band in order to accompany the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Epitaph procession]] of the cathedral, while the funeral marches that the bands play differ depending on the band; the Old Philharmonic play [[Albinoni]]'s ''Adagio'', the Mantzaros play [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s ''Marcia Funebre'' from [[Don Carlo]], and the Capodistria play [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]]'s ''Funeral March'' and [[Angelo Mariani (conductor)|Mariani]]'s ''Sventura''.<ref name="Easter">{{cite web |url=http://www.corfu.gr/en/culture/easter.htm |title=Corfu city hall website on Easter festivities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214202647/http://www.corfu.gr/en/culture/easter.htm |archive-date=14 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On Holy Saturday morning, the three city bands again take part in the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Epitaph processions]] of St. Spyridon Cathedral in procession with the Saint's relics.<ref name="Easter"/> At this point the bands play different funeral marches, with the Mantzaros playing [[Miccheli]]'s ''Calde Lacrime'', the Palia playing ''Marcia Funebre'' from [[Franco Faccio|Faccio]]'s ''[[Amleto]]'', and the Capodistria playing the ''Funeral March'' from [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)|Eroica]]''. This custom dates from the 19th century, when colonial administrators banned the participation of the British garrison band in the traditional Holy Friday funeral cortege. The defiant Corfiotes held the litany the following morning, and paraded the relics of St. Spyridon too, so that the administrators would not dare intervene.

The litany is followed , at exactly 11:00 AM, the celebration of the "Early Resurrection"; balconies in the old city are decked in bright red cloth, and Corfiotes throw down large clay pots (the ''bótides'', μπότηδες) full of water to smash on the street pavement, especially in wider areas of {{Interlanguage link|Liston (square){{!}}Liston|it|3=Liston}} and in an organised fashion.<ref name="Easter"/> This is enacted in anticipation of the Resurrection of Jesus, which is to be celebrated that same night,<ref name="Easter"/> and to commemorate [[King David]]'s phrase: "Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel" ([[Psalm 2]]:9).

Once the ''bótides'' commotion is over, the three bands parade the clay-strewn streets playing the famous "''Graikoí''" festive march.<ref name="Band rivalry">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE1yagErUbQ |title=As the Old Philharmonic concludes its marching in front of their building with a hearty rendition of the ''Graikoí'' March, the New Philharmonic appears and "salutes" their rivals with yet another rendition of the same march |website=[[YouTube]]|date=28 April 2008 }}</ref> The march, which functions as the anthem of the island, was composed during the period of Venetian rule, and its lyrics include: "Greeks, never fear, we are all enslaved: you to the Turks, we to the Venetians, but one day we shall all be free".{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Ta Karnavalia====
Another venerable Corfu tradition is known as the [[Carnival]] or ''Ta Karnavalia''. Venetian in origin, festivities include a parade featuring the main attraction of ''Karnavalos'', a rather [[grotesque]] figure with a large head and smiling face, leading a diverse procession of colourful [[Float (parade)|float]]s.<ref name="Karnavalia">{{cite web |url=http://www.corfu.gr/en/culture/carnav.htm |title=Corfu city hall website on Karnavalia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214202625/http://www.corfu.gr/en/culture/carnav.htm |archive-date=14 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Corfiots, young and old, dress up in colourful costumes and follow the parade, spilling out into the area's narrow streets ({{Transliteration|grc|kantounia}}) and spreading the festivities across the city,<ref name="Karnavalia"/> dancing and socialising. At night, dance and costume parties are traditional.<ref name="Karnavalia"/>