Giuseppe Verdi’s best-loved opera – La Traviata will feature in this year’s Gaulitana: A Festival of Music.

The live operatic production will be the highlight of the upcoming 16th festival edition and will provide a top “off-season” springtime operatic treat in Gozo to compliment the autumn operas produced at the island’s two principal theatres.

La Traviata, quite literally The Fallen Woman, recounts the story of a Parisian courtesan, who actually falls in love with a courtier, and then ends up dying of tuberculosis.

In coming up with this masterpiece from his middle period, Verdi has been quoted as saying he wanted something “of our own age” and so it remains to this day.

The title role of Violetta will present soprano Ekaterina Bakanova, the “mesmerising” artist who shot to stardom as “a stunning Violetta” after her spectacular last-minute Traviata debut in Covent Garden in July 2015.

The role of Violetta’s lover, Alfredo, will be interpreted by Francesco Meli, one of the most sought-after tenors worldwide. Renowned for his Verdian roles, he has been billed “as probably the best Alfredo in terms of timbre and vocal expression.”

The trio of principal singers is completed by highly-acclaimed Verdian baritone Piero Terranova. As Giorgio Germont, his interpretations have been praised as “monumental” and his characterisation as “amazing,” the Gaulitana said.

The opera is on Saturday, the 29th of April, starting at 7.30pm, at the Aurora Theatre, Gozo, under the distinguished patronage of H.E. George Vella, President of Malta.

The Gaulitana said that it “intends to offer another exciting operatic treat featuring a top-notch international cast together with the Gaulitanus Choir – the organisers of the festival – and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The opera will be under the baton of Gaulitana artistic director Colin Attard and the stage direction of Enrico. While Attard will also double as choir master, Castiglione will be responsible for the design of the scenery and the costumes.

This as well as the gorgeous flowing melodies of all those flamboyant choruses, parties and heart-wrenching and soul-baring arias and duets make La Traviata an all-time favourite and the most performed opera worldwide.

Tickets for this one-time performance and further details are now available online by clicking here.

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