Manoel to treat music lovers

The lights will dim and the curtain will rise to a grand opening of the Manoel Theatre's cultural calendar this season, which will be strong on music but also cater to diverse tastes.

The Malta Philarmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Brian Schemri, will be inaugurating the new season with a performance of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Schubert's Great Symphony on September 27, in what the theatre's general manager Judie Farrugia described as one of the highlights of the calendar: "Lovers of classical music will be enchanted."

Asked about the strong emphasis on music in the theatre's event schedule, she said: "Besides keeping with the traditional plays and adaptations we also feel it necessary to instil in the young a love and appreciation for classical music.

"Furthermore, we have the guidance of acclaimed conductor Mro Schembri who has years of experience behind him." Mro Schembri is a consultant to the theatre.

In a complete change of tone, MADC will be presenting More Fourplay between October 10 and 19, promising to have the audience in stitches. Actors Alan Montanaro, Isabel Warrington, Louiselle Vassallo and Alan Paris will take to the stage with sketches that range from nifty satire and slapstick comedy to musical parody.

On October 21, the Manoel will host acclaimed Portuguese singer Teresa Salgueiro and the Lusitania Ensemble who shall bring the musical fruits of the other side of the Mediterranean in a refined evening full of love songs.

A foreign orchestra shall also feature in this year's programme. On October 25 the Wiener Academie Orchestra, conducted by Mro Alfred Eschwe, will perform Austrian classical numbers through period instruments that evoke the Viennese music culture.

The spirit of the violin will be brought to the fore through the exquisite talents of Italian musicians Francesco D'Orazio on the violin and Roberto Prosseda on the piano on October 28.

Theatre enthusiasts who appreciate the Maltese language will relish Talenti theatrical company's Maltese adaptation of American playwright Neil Simon's 1968 play Plaza Suite re-titled Suite 719 fil-Plaza Hotel, on November 1 and 2.

The stage has also been set for the much followed Recital Series which will see the gifted French horn player Etienne Cutajar perform on November 4 and bassoonist George Zukerman accompanied by talented pianist Natasha Chircop on November 11.

Wales' most famous playwright and performer Frank Vickery will have his work Family Planning staged by one of Malta's oldest theatrical companies, Maleth, on November 7, 8 and 9.

An old favourite with children is Sergei Profokiev's Peter and the Wolf. The renowned musical on November 15 and 16 tells the story of a young lad's search for love, honour and heroism against the evil which is represented by the wolf with the major twist being that it takes place on a chess board.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will play famous Italian and French arias under the capable baton of Mro Paolo Ponziano Ciardi on November 22 with the accompaniment of soprano Gillian Zammit and tenor Davide Sotgiú.

The works of renowned composers Rossini, Mendelsshon, Liszt, Beethoven and Dvorak will be showcased on November 25 by the St Andrew's Band of Luqa in St Cecilia's annual concert under the direction of Mro Paul Schembri.

The end of November will see the 11th edition of Teatru Unplugged where various music genres, from the contemporary to the classic, will be performed live.

A night to celebrate the Obo instrument will see the Ciacci brothers Diego and Maurizio perform numbers that chronicle the history of this instrument on December 2.

On December 9, mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich, of Metropolitan Opera fame, will accompany the Malta Philarmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mro Michael Laus, in a performance of works by Mozart, Donizetti, Berlioz, Rossini Wagner and Massenet.

Children will undoubtedly flock to the theatre to see their favourite bedtime fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk come alive in the Christmas panto by Masquerade, in a new take that will see the much-loved tale based locally and full of laughs and mischief.

All in all the Manoel Theatre promises to keep us entertained with a vast range of productions that will make the cold season seem much more cheery.

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