Miriam Gauci's Rigoletto opens BOV Opera Festival

Expectations are running high and the promoters are confident of yet another successful edition of the Bank of Valletta Opera Festival, especially after Monday's official dress rehearsal performance of Rigoletto in front of a packed Manoel Theatre, in Valletta.

Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto last night officially opened this year's opera and classic music bonanza at the Manoel, with a second performance scheduled for tomorrow.

Wilfred Kenely, chairman of the Manoel Theatre's management committee, said: "This year's production has in fact been left in the able and experienced hands of soprano Miriam Gauci. This signifies a first for the BOV Opera Festival as this will be the first time in the festival's history that one of the operas is being directed by a Maltese director.

With the exception of one performer, it will also be an all-Maltese cast. On a more emotional level, Rigoletto also signifies a special experience for Miriam because it was the first opera she performed in Malta 25 years ago".

Rigoletto features the National Orchestra, soprano Gillian Zammit, mezzo soprano Claire Massa, tenor Juan Gambina and bass Noel Galea amongst others. The musical direction is in the hands of Michael Laus and the choir is led by Simone Attard.