Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, proclaimed by many to be one of his finest masterpieces, was produced and staged on two evenings at the Astra Theatre in Gozo to appreciative audiences.

Taking advantage of the Rigoletto hype on Gozo, members of the University Malta’s Department of Music Studies provided a “lively discussion” to those present on the history, politics, music and psychology of Verdi’s Rigoletto in conjunction with Astra Theatre.

Dr Max Erwin, Dr Abraham Borg and Mro John Galea, who also conducted the opera, are pictured here with a Rigoletto sculpture situated within the Gozitan theatre.

Dr Erwin said that, “Teatru Astra put on a brilliant production of Rigoletto, combining the historical setting of the opera with timely contemporary effects. It was a stunning effort by all involved – the singers, the chorus, the stage and costume designers, the conductor and orchestra – prosit lil kulhadd!”

He went on to say that, “our discussion was focused on both the music of this opera and how it has come to mean radically different things in different places and times, and the continued relevance of this opera in today’s world.”

The production was supported by the Gozo Cultural Programme and managed by the Malta Arts Council with the Ministry for Gozo.

Photo: University of Malta – Newspoint

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