Madama Butterfly at Astra

Giacomo Puccini’s much loved opera Madama Butterfly inaugurates the eleventh Festival Mediterranea organised by volunteers at Astra Theatre.

The festival opens on October 25 with the first of two performances (the second being held on October 27) of this undying tale, popular with local opera goers, and follows with a number of events until November 17.

Astra has engaged a cast that includes world-famous soprano Daniela Dessì in the title role, her real-life companion tenor Fabio Armiliato as Pinkerton and internationally-acclaimed baritone Carlo Guelfi as Sharpless.

The three have sung together on a number of occasions, including in opera at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and have recorded a number of CDs and DVDs together.

Besides the opera, Festival Mediterranea will feature the only Malta performance of an original production of song and Argentinian tango currently on European tour, a piano recital by the world’s youngest left-hand-only pianist, concerts ranging from operatic arias to symphonic music, as well as a number of on-site lectures about specific subjects of interest including art, history and the culture of wine-making.

The full programme of events is published on the festival’s website www.mediterranea.com.mt. More information is available on 2155 0985; for booking call 7925 6897.