More than 100 secondary students sat mesmerised yesterday as they were treated to a live show by top operatic performers who exposed them to new genres of music.
Marco Gandini, the opera director of the upcoming performance of La Traviata, came up with the idea for the workshop at St Margaret’s College, Cottonera, to create awareness on the beauty of musical expressions through fun and opera.
The boys listened attentively, at times covering their mouths to suppress a giggle, as Mr Gandini took them on a journey of popular music and a discussion of lyrics.
He then played a CD of a recorded opera and followed it by a live interpretation by Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi and Italian tenor Alessandro Liberatore, to show them the difference between live and studio recordings.
This initiative was followed by a press conference by Astra Theatre yesterday to announce the full cast for its upcoming opera production.
La Traviata will be performed twice, on October 28 and October 30, at the theatre in Gozo, starting at 7.30 p.m. It is the highlight of the ninth edition of the Festival Mediterranea.
Ms Cauchi, who has carved a name for herself with her outstanding performances at the Astra Theatre in recent years, will be returning as the opera’s lead singer.
The very demanding role of Violetta suits Ms Cauchi’s passionate, uncompromising personality and her strong soprano voice. Her voice is vividly remembered in her excellent interpretation of Gilda in last year’s Rigoletto, and her equally unforgettable renditions of Liù in Turandot.
Mr Liberatore is performing for the first time in Malta in the main role of Alfredo. His repertoire includes operas by Mozart, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, as well as the French operas with performances in Italian theatres and in Berlin, Lisbon and Tokyo.
He has performed the main tenor part of La Traviata in a number of Italian theatres as well as in Madrid in the renowned production staged by Franco Zeffirelli.
Italian baritone Marco Chingari returns to the Astra, this time as Germont after his very successful and powerful interpretations of the title role in Macbeth in 2007.
Other roles will be sung by Georgina Gauci as Flora, Dorienne Portelli as Annina, Frans Mangion as Gaston, Joseph Lia as Barone Douphol, Giampiero Cicino as Marchese d’Obigny, Kenneth Scicluna as Dottore Grenvil, Mario Portelli as Giuseppe, Violetta’s servant while Armando Tomasello sings the part of the Commissionaire.
La Traviata is being directed by Mr Gandini whose own work has created benchmarks for opera production. Mr Gandini who, since 1992 has been Franco Zeffirelli’s associate director, has worked at major Italian theatres, and beyond, including the Metropolitan in New York, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
For La Traviata, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will again be under the baton of Maestro Joseph Vella while the Teatru Astra Opera Chorus, coached by Maria Frendo, will add a fuller dimension to the singing parts.
Choreography is in the hands of Felix Busuttil with the participation of the Yada Dance Company and the Yada Dance Academy, Gozo at the theatre.
The stage set is being constructed by Carmel Zammit and Emanuel Farrugia and their teams, following designs by scenographer Mauro Tinti. Scenic artist is Joseph Cauchi. Final preparations for costumes are being made by Luca Canfora, Emanuel Grima and George Farrugia. Lights are being designed by George Zammit.
All operas produced at Astra Theatre are the labour of love of hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their free time throughout the year to contribute to the country’s culture scene and the island of Gozo’s tourism industry.
More information on La Traviata or any of Festival Mediterranea events may be obtained from www.mediterranea.com.mt. Booking is available on 2155 0985 or 9988 3007 or bookings@mediterranea.com.mt.