Opera on Malta

I agree with Jesmond Grixti (The Sunday Times, July 8), although one cannot be sure that an even earlier opera composed in Maltese may not be found. I have perused the manuscripts of Nani in Dr Grixti's edition, including this opera, and it is a good...

I agree with Jesmond Grixti (The Sunday Times, July 8), although one cannot be sure that an even earlier opera composed in Maltese may not be found.

I have perused the manuscripts of Nani in Dr Grixti's edition, including this opera, and it is a good work, composed in the style of Donizetti. The other Maltese composer, Spiteri Fremond, would have been a good competitor in this style of composition.

It is but a part of a wonderful operatic and musical history of music on Malta, starting with the Merope first staged at the Manoel Theatre and continuing with the operas composed both on Malta and in Paris by Nicolò Isouard. He was an astoundingly successful composer in the latter city, and now his complete sacred music composed on Malta is being edited and will soon be published.

Your musical heritage, so long neglected, is now being brought to life and Malta will be surprised and proud of its quality.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.