Bellini’s opera Norma brought an end to this year’s Gaulitana festival in Gozo. The bel canto masterpiece was received with great acclaim and was described as ‘triumphant’. Directed by Enrico Castiglione, the opera featured Rubens Pelizzari in the part of Pollione, Amarilli Nizza as Norma and Anna Maria Chiuri as Adalgisa. The costumes were designed by Sonia Cammarata, while Colin Attard conducted the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gaulitanus choir. This choice for Bellini’s work was particularly apt as the Gaulitanus choir has just sang in La Bohème at Taormina’s Amphitheatre, just outside the composer’s birthplace. Gaulitana’s next operatic project, on April 6, of next year, is Puccini’s Manon Lescaut featuring Miriam Gauci.