This month's must-see - Puccini aplenty

It might have been more logical to highlight Notte Bianca as this month's Must See, but we like to be different... occasionally. So we are going for the two opera productions on offer in Gozo this month.

The two main philharmonic societies at Teatros Astra and Aurora are rightly renowned for the quality and scale of their opera productions.

Thus we are giving top billing to the Soċjetà Filarmonika Leone's production of Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème at the Aurora on October 11 and the La Stella Philarmonic Society staging of the same composer's Turandot just two weeks later on October 23 and 25.

All performances are scheduled to begin at 7.30 p.m and the usual invasion of opera buffs from Malta is expected... nay anticipated.

La Bohème will have Maltese soprano Lydia Caruana in the leading role of Mimi. Ms Caruana is arguably one of the fastest rising stars of the local and international opera scene and her presence is expected to guarantee the usual full house. The orchestra will be the Malta Philharmonic, under MD Colin Attard.

Up the street at the Astra the leading roles will be played by Italian soprano Francesca Patane, another Italian, tenor Antonio Interisano, plus Gozo's own Miriam Cauchi, soprano. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be on hand once more, this time conducted by Mro Joseph Vella.

Both productions will be spectacular and they certainly qualify as this month's must-sees.

If, and it's a big if, you can get tickets.