Behind the Opera Curtain
Teatru Manoel and Teatru Astra partner in an opera workshop
Teatru Astra has just announced its latest educational initiative, ‘Behind the Opera Curtain’, a free workshop with directors and soloists from Teatru Astra’s forthcoming production of La Boheme. Aimed at opera lovers, singers and students, the workshop will be held at the Teatru Manoel’s Studio Theatre on Tuesday 20 October 2015 at 18.00hrs.
Artistic Director, Enrico Stinchelli, the Musical Director, Joseph Vella and the lead singers of the forthcoming La Boheme, namely local Soprano Miriam Cauchi, Baritone Devid Checconi, Bass Gabriele Sagona and Mezzo-Soprano Oana Andra will be participating in this workshop.
The Artistic Director will talk about operatic stage production in general but with particular reference to La Boheme. The talk will be illustrated (and followed) by live illustrations from the singers who will sing arias mainly from La Boheme. The Musical Director will also briefly put all the details in context.
The event, which is supported by Bank of Valletta, is free but there is limited capacity so booking is essential. Booking can be made online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt ,by email bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or tel: 2124 6389.
Opera at the Astra enjoys a well-established tradition of excellence, more than 50 opera performances have been held in the past 37 years on the spacious stage of the Astra theatre. The musical director is Professor Joseph Vella, while the artistic direction has, for the fifth year running, been entrusted to Enrico Stinchelli. La Boheme is part of the 14th edition of Festival Mediterranea, a unique endeavour and the only festival of its kind on the Maltese islands, combining high culture with the production of an Italian opera in conjunction with traditional fare. The festival website www.mediterranea.com.mt. Carries all the latest updates on the opera and festival.
Teatru Manoel has also a long tradition of staging operas albeit on a different scale to the Astra. Being a 1731 theatre with a stage that is merely 7 by 11 meters and an orchestra pit that is a miniscule 7 by three meters, the type of opera that is staged in this historical and artistic gem is radically different to the type of opera houses built in the Verdian tradition. In fact the Manoel has just presented Purcell’s poignantly beautiful miniature opera Dido and Aeneas a joint venture between Valletta 2018 Foundation and the theatre involving Teatru Manoel Youth Opera and the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble. Next March the theatre will stage Gluck’s most popular opera, Orphee et Eurydice in the Berlioz 1859 revision: a mythological story of obsessive love.
To book and for more information on the opera and the workshop go to www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.
