Bank of Valletta and the Manoel Theatre have launched the ‘Teatru Manoel Performing Arts Festival’.

The festival starts on March 2 and spans 16 days and reaches a climax in the production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore between March 15 and 18. It starts on March 2, 3 and 4 with the performance Filumena Marturano by the Manoel in collaboration with Talenti theatre group.

The story follows Domenico Soriano, 50, a wealthy Neapolitan shop-keeper who is raging against Filumena, 48, a former prostitute. They lived together for 26 years as husband and wife and she has cheated him, pretending to be near to death, and convincing him to marry her in extremis.

An evening of chamber music featuring Gerard Caussé on the viola and Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro at the piano in works by Hindemith, Beethoven and Franck follow on March 6. On March 8, there will be a vocal recital by participants from Maltese soprano Juliette Bisazza’s master classes.

An evening of Iberian dance by Puerto Flamenco, an eclectic flamenco company from the heart of Seville, employing current trends in authentic flamenco full of unrestrained energy, raw emotion and commanding virtuosity will be performed on March 10.

The festival comes to a close with Verdi’s Il Trovatore on March 15, 16, 17 and 18. The opera will be conducted by Damiano Binetti with the participation of Kim Kisun and Antonino Interisano alternating as Manrico, Katarina Vovkova and Liana Sass alternating as Eleonora and Svatopluk Sem as the Conte di Luna. Maltese bass Albert Buttigieg will be taking on the role of Ferrando.

For tickets call 2124 6389 or visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.