News

Gozo opera producers are facing "serious financial difficulties" and are calling for more sponsorship from the private sector in order for their productions and cultural festivals to be sustainable, The Malta Independent on Sunday has learnt. Meanwhile, the Astra is presenting its eighth Mediterranea...

Bank of Valletta is supporting the 8th Edition of Festival Mediterranea. The Festival was launched by Teatru Astra in Gozo during a press conference held at Bank of Valletta's Head Office in Santa Venera and addressed by Bank of Valletta Chief Officer Operations Igino Xuereb, Dr Joseph Grech LLD, President...

Another return to Teatru Astra's Festival Mediterranea opera production is young Italian tenor Antonino Interisano. After his successful interpretation of Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Canio in Pagliacci and Calaf in Puccini's Turandot, he will now interpret Duke of Mantua in Verdi's opera Rigoletto...

The Centre Stage Dance Academy, under the artistic direction of Natalie Sciortino will stage a dance show entitled Unforgettable at the Teatru Astra on November 14, as part of the eighth edition of Festival Mediterranea. With a cast of over 150 dancers, Unforgettable will feature an array of dance routines...

Following last year's huge success interpreting Liu' in Puccini's Turandotat the Astra, Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi, was once again engaged by Teatru Astra for this year's production Rigoletto. In Verdi's Rigoletto, Cauchi will be interpreting Rigoletto's daughter, Gilda, one of the major roles in...

The eighth edition of Festival Mediterranea kicks off on the 23 October with a recital by organist Richard Vendome on the late 18th century British pipe organ at the Aula Mgr. G. Farrugia, St George’s Basilica. The biggest event, is undoubtly Verdi's opera Rigoletto, which will be staged at the Astra...

In a press release issued on Friday, August 31, the Hon. Dolores Cristina, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports appointed the new board of directors for the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Malta. Thirty year-old lawyer Dr James Scerri Worley is the new chairman, and Dr Maria Frendo was...

In an article entitled “Schöne Schwester” (beautiful sister), journalist Johanna Rüdiger writes about the island region of Gozo.The article focuses mainly on the natural beauty of the island and how much the island has to offer vis-à-vis culture and heritage. Regarding culture and cultural activities...

Il-kumment ta’ Gabriele D’Annunzio fuq Verdi, “colui che pianse ed amò per tutti” (hu beka u ħabb għal kulħadd), jiġbor f’kelmtejn il-ġenju u t-talent tal-Maestro.Din il-frażi famuża ta’ D’Annunzio, li lanqas għalih l-imħabba u d-dmugħ ma kienu ġodda, tgħid kull ma jista’ jingħad u għandu fuq Rigoletto.Aktarx...

Kenneth Zammit Tabona has a chat with Sicilian tenor Antonino Interisano about operatic life and his Gozo experiences while in Malta singing Rossini’s Stabat Mater at St John’s Co-Cathedral, last month. Could not help it. After having chatted for hours with Antonino Interisano over a protracted lunch,...