I wish to express my appreciation for a truly professional presentation by a group of young people having great love and enthusiasm for opera. I am referring to the group calling itself MiniGig Opera.

It was the young soprano Charlene Portelli of Rabat who encouraged me to attend the concert last Saturday at Mdina... and I enjoyed every minute of it.

It was like a big musical surprise. I watched a perfect Maltese opera presentation performed by these young and talented opera singers. Their rendering was mixed with a beautiful and simple choreography and backed by orchestral music coming from loudspeakers.

Their highly decorated old Mini Minor attracted the attention of the crowd that gathered. The enthusiastic rounds of applause, coming from the heart of those present, were well deserved.

The group presented a one-hour long programme (or perhaps a little less) that fostered an appreciation of the most noble art – opera. It managed to attract an audience of non-theatregoers and perhaps with little experience of opera. Their message was clear: “Opera is beautiful...if you do not appreciate it, you are missing an important field in art.”

I also wish to say that these young opera singers should have more opportunities and encouragement from everyone, especially the Department of Culture. Malta should be more proud of them.