Join us for this cultural weekend, where opera is merely a shining star in a musical galaxy.
The OPERA+ Weekend, 27-29 April 2018, shall be a fitting end to the 2018 edition of Gaulitana.
The 3 days of cultural bonanza commence on Friday at 20.00hrs with a guitar recital at the Ggantija Temples. French artist Kevin Moindaze returns to the festival for a unique event as the temples – lit up purposely for the concert, ensuring a pan-spiritual journey.
On Saturday 28th at 11.00hrs, events ensue with Artistic Insights and Curator’s Tour. At the Ggantija Resource Centre, opera director Enrico Castiglione delves on how his Norma set designs are inspired by Gozo’s prime heritage location, the Ggantija Temples. Well-known photographer Daniel Cilia, former leader of photographic department at the Art Institute in Florence, illustrates Ggantija through his camera lens along the years. Following this, Daphne M Sant Caruana, the curator of the UNESCO world-heritage site, leads a tour of the temples.
In the evening, Bellini’s Norma will be staged at Teatru tal-Opra Aurora at 19.30hrs. Featuring a stellar cast with Amarilli Nizza, Stefan Pop and Anna Maria Chiuri, the production will be directed by Enrico Castiglione with costume-designs by Sonia Cammarata. Colin Attard conducts the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Gaulitanus Choir.
Norma will be surtitled in English. A pre-opera talk by critic Albert G Storace commences at 18.45hrs.
Gaulitana’s Finale is scheduled for Sunday 29th at the Church of St Francis in Victoria. Saxophonist Philip Attard, overall winner of the prestigious Royal Overseas League Competition in 2016 in the Wind and Percussion category shall perform the Glazunov Concerto whereas Kevin Moindaze interprets the Giuliani Guitar Concerto. The programme features also Elgar’s Serenade for Strings and Bartok’s popular Romanian Dances.
Bookings for Norma are available on www.teatruaurora.com or via ticket hotline 79045779.
Complimentary tickets for the events at Ggantija be obtained from Ggantija Interpretation Centre/Gozo Museum of Archaeology(Cittadella). Entry can only be granted on presentation of a ticket as a limited number of places are available.
Gaulitana 2018 is supported by the Gozo Cultural Support Programme of Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Gozo, Valletta 2018 and Heritage Malta.
For more information please visit www.gaulitanus.com

