During a visit to the Aurora and Astra theatres, Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri announced that for another year October in Gozo will be a month full of Opera-related events.
He said that nowadays, Opera has become an October tradition that continues to place Gozo on the world cultural map as an island of art, heritage and culture. The opera season not only brings operatic performances to the stage, but this cultural experience is extended with concerts, talks, exhibitions and activities for families that bring the entire island to life.
Minister Clint Camilleri said, “Opera in Gozo is not only a celebration of the arts but also an opportunity to bring everyone together, continue to generate the local economy and make us proud of our cultural heritage. Thanks to the commitment of the Aurora Theatre, the Astra Theatre, the artists, the volunteers and everyone involved, Gozo today has a unique place on the international cultural map.”
The events will open on Friday, the 3rd of October with Euphonia: The Grand Opera Concert, under the direction of Mariella Spiteri Cefai and featuring soloists Nico Darmanin and Nicola Said with a high-level evening. On October the 10th, ‘Symphony of Lights’ will transform Santa Lucia into an open, illuminated stage, with access to the entire public.
The main evening of the year begins at the Aurora Opera House on Saturday, the 11th of October, with Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, a bold new production about destiny and identity. The month ends with a production of Puccini’s Tosca at the Astra Theatre on October the 23rd and 25th, a clarinet-piano recital on the 24th and a conference by Dr John Galea “Power, Passion and Puccini: The Tragic World of Tosca” on the 25th.
In addition, the public will be able to enjoy the Aurora International Folk Festival, Intermezzo for Strings and the Piano recital at the Opera. Two exhibitions will also open: the “Philatelic Opera and Classical Music” by the Gozo Philatelic Society in Il-Ha?ar, and MUZajk by Mary Portelli.
The Minister concluded by encouraging the public to attend and enjoy this varied and rich Opera programme that Gozo has prepared for the month of October.
Photo: DOI