Guiseppe Verdi’s La Traviata is set to be the star of the ninth edition of the Gozitan Festival Mediterranea running from October 28 to November 27.

Literally meaning “the woman who strayed”, the opera is a heart-rending story of Violetta, a Parisian courtesan who falls in love with Alfredo, much to the shame of his father, Giorgio Germont.

Violetta will be played by Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi, while Italian tenor Alessandro Libertone sings the role of Alfredo and Marco Chingari in the role of his father.

The festival will have two representations of the world renowned opera in Gozo’s Astra Theatre, on the opening night and the Saturday after.

The annual festival features not only opera but music, dance, history, food and wine, art and archaeology.

In the case of the latter, leading British scholar David Trump will be revisiting the festival to conduct onsite lectures in prehistoric heritage sites, including the Ħal Saflieni hypogeum and Ġgantija.

Other events include a site visit of the Hili family fields in Għarb renowned for their organic vines and wine produce, an English translation of Europides’ Trojan Women and two evenings by the Opera Studio Teatru Astra, among many others.

During the festival launch yesterday, festival music director and Teatru Astra’s resident conductor Joseph Vella spoke about how the theatre sought to make the best use of local talent while engaging foreign artist. The festival is organised by volunteers and sponsored by Bank of Valletta. For further information visit www.mediterranea.com.mt.