Each year, on the weekend closest to May 9, Europe Day, opera houses in Europe and beyond open their doors to new and existing audiences to celebrate the art of opera and the talent of those who make it.

Bringing European Opera Days to the Aurora Opera House has been in the pipeline for a few years. The theatre has been represented in Vienna, Madrid, Budapest and Oltenia. Through these events and exchanges, it has gradually managed to build a healthy network of professional relationships. It has become enlisted in the international Operabase website for opera professionals and audiences, and thanks to Aurora, Operabase has its Maltese version too.

In direct contact with personnel from the mother-company Opera Europa, the Aurora embarked on this first initiative of European Opera Days in Malta, and is keeping itself busy with a variety of events being held these days.

The public is being asked to take part and celebrate opera with them.

Programme

Today

3.30 to 7pm: Prep, Junior and Beginners classes from the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School

Open classes on the Aurora main stage followed by theatre tours.

Tomorrow

5.30 to 6.30pm: Chamber Music Classes from the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School

Ensemble Class at the 29th April 1956 hall followed by theatre tours.

7.30 to 8.30pm: Special anniversary lecture by Colin Attard

Conductor Colin Attard will be sharing his personal anecdotes as opera in Gozo evolved over a span of 25 years.

Saturday

11am to 12.30pm: Web conference: Theatres of the World

In line with the theme of European Opera Days 2016, as well as with the values of networking promulgated by this initiative, the Aurora Opera House is organising an international web conference with the participation of various opera houses, including Malta’s own national opera, the Manoel Theatre.

Panels will convene in different houses and communicate via the internet. The web conference, entitled Theatres of the World will be chaired by Kenneth Zammit Tabona, artistic director of the Manoel Theatre from Malta’s own 1732 national opera house. It is set to tackle the new challenges faced by different opera houses operating in different scenarios and on different working models.

Only a few more spaces for opera houses that wish to participate remain.

Those interested may contact Matthew Sultana by sending an e-mail to teatruaurora@leone.org.mt.

Saturday and Sunday

The Aurora Opera House will be open all mornings for free or guided viewing.