BoV sponsors Gozo for Arts and Culture festival

BANK OF VALLETTA is sponsoring 'Cittadella - Gozo for Arts and Culture', a programme of cultural events organised annually by the Leone Band Club at the Aurora Opera House in Victoria.

Victoria branch manager Jack Thewma recently presented the sponsorship to Leone Band Club president Dr Michael Caruana.

"This sponsorship further underscores BoV's efforts to play a central role in the evolvement and enrichment of Gozo's cultural milieu," Mr Theuma said. "Gozo has always featured as a high priority on BoV's agenda and our support to such initiatives underlines our commitment to enhance the cultural aspect related to Gozitan community life," he added

Thanking BoV for its sponsorship, Dr Caruana outlined how final preparations are now under way for this year's opera production at the Aurora, which will be staged on Saturday. "The now established annual appointment with the lyric opera will raise the curtain to the staging of Fedora with a cast composed of a number of international singers. Also, the engagement of a foreign orchestra to perform during the opera has been an ambitious decision and an equally challenging one," Dr Caruana said.

The main role in Fedora will be interpreted by Romanian soprano Laura Niculescu, who is one of the top exponents of this role. Top international tenor Mario Malagnini will play the very demanding role of Count Loris Ipanov. His debut in Fedora goes back to 1992 at the Konzerthaus in Vienna when, incidentally, he was partnered by Ms Niculescu as Fedora. Italian baritone Marzio Giossi has been cast as De Siriex.

This is the first time Fedora will be staged in Gozo; it was last produced in Malta in 1987. Ample space has also been given to local artists, particularly Gozitan soloists, including soprano Rita Dimech, bass Noel Galea and soprano Marouska Attard. Aurora Theatre resident conductor Mro Colin Attard is responsible for the direction. This will be the 12th opera he will be conducting at the Aurora and his first Giordano opera.

This year, the 50-strong Francesco Cilea Orchestra of Reggio Calabria will be taking part.

"I am very satisfied with the cast we managed to bill for the performance," Dr Caruana said. "The international artists are top quality for their designated roles and all three have had very positive reviews for these roles. On the other hand, I am equally satisfied with the ample space we are giving to Gozitan artists, two of whom will be making their debut at our theatre."

The opera set is by Ditta Izzo of Palermo; Alfred Camilleri and Jacqueline Bondin are completing it with the required props. Teddy Mizzi is responsible for stage co-ordination. Meanwhile, costumes from Sartoria Pipi of Palermo are already in the hands of the theatre's wardrobe team for final alterations.

The festival also includes an orchestral concert featuring Francesco Cilea, who will play works by Mozart at the Kempinski San Lawrenz Leisure Resort on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The Italian connection will continue during the following two days. There will be a piano recital by Sicilian pianist Vincenzo Contino at the Gozo Ministry's exhibition hall on the Monday. The Sicily Brass Quintet will perform at Palazzo Palina Ta' Cenc on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m.

On Wednesday there will be a traditional Gozitan evening with food and music in the foyer of the Leone Band Club from 7.30 p.m. The Victoria Clarinet Quartet will give a lunchtime concert at the Gozo Law Courts on Thursday at 11.30 a.m.

The festival closes with a concert at the Gozo Cathedral on Saturday at 8 p.m., featuring sacred music from the cathedral archives with the participation of four soloists, accompanied by a chamber orchestra led by Marcelline Agius and directed by Mro Attard.