The 18th edition of Festival Mediterranea, “Gozo’s main autumn festival,” has been officially launched by the Astra Theatre and Bank of Valletta.
The Festival, on an annual basis, features a double representation of an opera and an array of other events spanning from music and vocal recitals to art exhibitions, lectures and a symphonic band concert by the Victoria’s La Stella Band.
The highlight of this year’s festival is the presentation of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore, with a double representation scheduled for the 24th and 26th of October at the Astra Theatre in Victoria.
The organisers said that the star-studded cast of this year’s production includes one of the current top Verdian tenors: Valeriy Georgiev, who will star in the title role of the troubadour Manrico who performed extensively throughout Europe, including Germany, Italy and Belgium, among others.
Soprano Joanna Parisi, who has garnered exciting reviews worldwide for her Verdi roles, will feature as his beloved Leonora.
A new name for the Astra Theatre is Plamen Dimitrov singing the evil Count di Luna, who will be joined by Sania Anastasia, the mysterious Azucena, a heavy-weight mezzo-soprano, also of international calibre who is remembered for her iconic interpretations of Amneris in Aida (2016) at the Astra.
Other roles are assigned to Carlo Colombara who will be making a most welcome come-back as Ferrando.
Local artistes include upcoming talented soprano Marvic Baldacchino, who will be making her debut at Teatru Astra as Ines, while Noel Galea, a household name in local operatic productions, is being entrusted with the part of Vecchio Zingaro.
The Astra Theatre’s newly appointed resident opera-conductor John Galea will be on the podium, conducting the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera Chorus.
“International-fame director Enrico Stinchelli, who has wooed opera patrons at the Astra since 2001, is being entrusted once again with the artistic direction of the opera,” the Astra
Opera patrons will have the opportunity to experience a culturally charged weekend between the 24th and 26th of October.
The internationally-acclaimed Sicilian choir, Coro Lirico Siciliano, which has toured the world performing operas, will be delighting the audience with the best of its repertoire, including sacred music, at St George’s Basilica on Friday, the 24th of October at 12.30pm.
A clarinet and pianoforte recital, featuring musicians Mario Galea and Francis Camilleri is scheduled in the evening of the same day at the Kempinski San Lawrenz Hotel. The programme includes major works for the clarinet with Weber’s Clarinet Concerto no. 2 and Brahms Clarinet Sonata no. 2, among others.
Dr Abraham Borg, an authority in opera, will be discussing the context behind “Il Trovatore” during a lecture on Saturday, the 26th of October at the Victoria’s town hall at 10.00am.
The Astra said that patrons at the Astra Theatre for Il Trovatore, who will be welcomed for a ‘Brinidisi’ – a pre-opera experience at Astra spacious foyer, will also have the opportunity visit an exhibition which narrates the history of Il Trovatore and opera in general on the islands.
Other events include a pianoforte recital by pianist Francis James Camilleri on Friday, the 18th of October at Aula Mgr Farrugia, an onsite lecture by Dr Mark Sagona on Saturday, the 19th and an exhibition at Il Hagar Museum featuring the art of Anton Inglott.
Festival Mediterranea draws to an end in style on Saturday, the 16th of November with La Stella Band’s Annual Grand Concert at the Astra.
Reservations and bookings for all these events can be on the festival helpdesk on 21550985, email bookings@mediterranea.com.mt [1]
Online booking and other information on the opera and festival is available on www.teatruastra.com.mt [2]