Astra festival Mediterranea may become an annual event in Gozo

A new week-long festival of culture, tradition and folklore is aiming to make Gozo an even more attractive tourist attraction.

Dubbed Mediterranea, the festival is set to become an annual event on Gozo's cultural calendar to promote the island as a distinct destination and as home of one of the oldest civilisations in Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

The festival will be held by the Astra Theatre between November 22-29 to celebrate Gozo's 7,000 years of unique culture.

It was launched by its artistic director, Joseph Vella, during a news conference at the Malta High Commission in London.

Prof. Vella told the British press that the Astra had secured the participation of the renowned tenor Giuseppe Giacomini, whose vocal timbre combined strength, beauty of tone, dynamic range and intensity.

"Giuseppe Giacomini is spearheading a star-studded cast which sees artists coming from Covent Garden, the Metropolitan, La Scala, Buenos Aires and Verona, apart from a complement of choristers from the famous Teatro dell'Opera in Rome," Prof. Vella said.

From a musical point of view, the highlights of the festival will definitely be the opening night, with Verdi's opera Un Ballo in Maschera and the concluding one with the Te Deum and the Requiem.

Internationally acclaimed New York-based artistic director Joseph Bascetta, who has scored resounding successes at the Teatru Astra with his dynamic interpretations of Macbeth, Aida, and La Gioconda, has been entrusted with staging the opera.

He said the Astra Theatre also strove to promote local talent and this year the organising committee had decided to engage Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi who has won several scholarships and prestigious competitions in Sofia and Milan.

Meanwhile, the Astra Opera Chorus, which has gained a reputation for its inimitable rich tonal quality, is being coached by Maria Frendo, herself a leading soprano, pianist and academic.

Festival marketing director Anton Tabone said that in just eight days the festival would reveal the very essence of the cultural milieu that the island of Gozo, lying at the heart of the Mediterranean, enjoys.

The Mediterranea experience also includes visits around Gozo, the old towns, churches, museums, bays, a one-day visit to Malta as well as lectures on Gozo's culture and history.

Malta High Commissioner George Bonello du Puis praised thie initiative and expressed the hope that Malta would organise a similar week-long festival.

Booking for Mediterranea is now open and tickets are available from John Portelli Enterprises, Valletta on 21 235772; the Mellieha Sub-Post Office on 21 523927; Anthony D'Amato on 21 234348 or Teatru Astra in Gozo on 21 550985.

www.mediterranea.com.mt.