Soprano Dorothy Baldacchino will be giving a recital during a lunch-time concert at the Oratory of St Francis in Valletta today.

The soprano will sing excerpts from Handel’s operas, such as Semele, Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Serse and Agrippina, followed by excerpts from Mozart’s operatic repertoire, mainly consisting of Così Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, La Clemenza Di Tito and Le Nozze Di Figaro

Baldacchino, who studied voice and interpretation under the direction of soprano Miriam Cauchi, has featured in several recitals and opera productions both locally and internationally. She participated in the Internationale Musikatage fur Jugendliche, Germany, and in the UK with the Dorset Opera’s production of Bizet’s Les Pheurs de Perles. In 2007, she was Pamina in the children’s adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Manoel Theatre.

The singer also received guidance in actor training with Aleateia Theatre Group, with whom she participated in premiere productions locally and internationally such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with Drowning Lilies receiving excellent reviews. She also worked in direction and production as assistant stage director to Italian director Mario Corradi for the productions of Verdi’s Macbeth (Teatru Astra, Gozo, 2007), Puccini’s Turandot (Teatru Astra, 2008) and Gonoud’s Romeo et Juliette (Teatro Coccia Novara, Italy, 2009). Baldacchino has also worked in voice drama workshops aimed at children with special needs.

The concerts at the oratory are aimed at giving a platform to local and foreign artists and to raise funds for the church, which is undergoing extensive structural restoration.

The oratory has an interesting history, since before the alterations carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, the large chamber was used as the refectory for the religious community. It was then transformed into an oratory, adorned by magnificent baroque paintings, a gilded altarpiece and original monks’ benches.

■ Tickets for the lunchtime concerts can be obtained from the venue itself half an hour before the concert begins. For more details, call 7968 0952 or send an e-mail to baroccomalta@gmail.com.