Public Concert ends a very successful vocal master class by Miriam Gauci.

A series of vocal master classes by Maltese internationally renowned soprano Miriam Gauci returned to Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, after a forced absence of two years. The festival, currently in its hybrid 15^th edition, is an awardee of the European Festivals Association’s EFFE label and principally supported by the Investment in Cultural Organisations – Gozo of Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Gozo.

Re-kicking the festival’s GauLearn educational programme, the master classes were held from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th August, 2022 at the MAVC Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School, Xewkija, courtesy of school co-ordinator Mr Vince Caruana. These came to an end with a vocal concert at the Ministry for Gozo’s Hall, Victoria – which was hosting the first festival public event after almost three years – on Saturday 20^th August at 20.00hrs.

All the singers who took part in the master class – coming from Malta, Gozo, Italy and Germany – participated and were accompanied by Milica Lawrence, the repetiteur in residence. Their performance, consisting wholly of operatic arias, was very well-received and the very good audience which turned up afforded them with a hearty standing ovation.

Photo credits: Betty Bugeja / Pierre Louis Attard

Meanwhile, Albert G Sttorace’s online review reads:

This was a kind of “some enchanted evening” during which some of the best upcoming voices were heard. Eight in all, all from our islands with one being Italian who lives here and another coming from Germany.

These singers may vary in experience, with some, even among the younger ones having some edge over the others. However this was not a singing competition but, an event during which under the expert tuition of our very popular soprano Miriam Gauci, followed a course in an exercise improve their singing. In every aspect of course: vocal technique, interpretation, poise and deportment all that a great singing actress who IS Miriam Gauci could impart to participants.

These young people were united in one common aim: that to learn more and project their many good qualities with intelligence and strong will. I had heard all but one of these singers before and I am continuously amazed at the steps forward most have registered.

One in question and the one who was first to sing, was mezzo-soprano Francesca Bartolo whose voice made a strong impact for its strength and deeply rich timbre which will certainly lead her to a fine contralto. She sang Che farò senza Euridice from Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Later in the concert she sang a high-spirited Il segreto per essere felice, from Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia.

Almost all singers sang two operatic excerpts. The first sung by soprano Stephanie Portelli was a very poised and appealing Porgi amor from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, while she sang with great feeling and pathos Signore, ascolta! from Puccini’s Turandot.

There was more Mozart when the next singer, soprano Maria Concetta Calafiore sang Deh, vieni non tardar, again from Figaro and later turned to Puccini in La canzone di Doretta from La Rondine. Here one must call a spade a spade. This singer has a charming personality and tries to project the essence of every word she sings but the voice was just not up to hitting off both excerpts. A voice seemed to be struggling to come out yet what came out was something too strongly nasal.

By her own admission soprano Maria Grazia Grech loves bel canto and it was no surprise that she sang an aria from Rossini ‘s opera Maometto II. This was Giusto ciel in tal periglio, in which I sensed a certain cautious approach with however some well-wrought climaxes. Another admission of hers is that she adores Bellini, whom she could not omit. Therefore she sang Eccomi in lieta veste…Oh! Quante volte from I Capuleti ed I Montecchi. Here she gave her all in a very beautiful rendition.

Mozart was back wjth soprano Madeleine Gruppetta’s singing Zerlna’s Vedrai carino from Don Giovanni. This was a convincing mix of coyness and coquettishness, at which Zerlina is a past mistress. From the same opera came a powerfully irate Ah! Chi mi dice mai. This was sung by the slighted Elvira with great eloquence. I had to tell soprano Nicole Janczak, whom I had never heard before “How beautifully angry” she was. For hers indeed was a combination of presence supported by a beautiful voice. Of the latter one could enjoy more in her second aria. This was The trees on the mountain, from the American opera Susannah (1955) by Carlisle Floyd. It is a lovely extended aria and was very well-projected.

I cannot remember who once said to me that in order to sing well one has to be well-grounded and rounded in Mozart. From his rich repertoire, mezzo-soprano Raisa Marie Micallef sang both her arias from Le nozze di Figaro: first the appealingly charming Voi che sapere, followed by the “confused” Non so più cosa son. At just twenty, I think this singer was the youngest of the group and she makes great strides forward every time I hear her.

One could say the same of the very experienced soprano Nicola Said, who embodies so many fine elements in her singing. Aways working hard and aiming high she sang two excerpts very different in style. The first was a dazzling display of bel canto tenderness and virtuosity in Regnava nel Silenzio from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Her second piece was the rather tragic Donde lieta uscì, from Puccini’s La Bohème.

The official final number was the popular Barcarolle from Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann. This duet was sung by Nicola Said and Raisa Marie Micallef.

The audience’s warm reaction resulted in an encore an arrangement for female voices of the Brindisi from Verdi’s La Traviata. The two hard-working pillars of the Master Classes, Miriam Gauci and Milica Lawrence, were presented with bouquets of flowers.

Colin Attard, artistic director of the Gaulitana Festival had introduced the concert and closed the event with a word of thanks to the audience for their support and to all who worked hard to obtain such good results.

Email:	gaulitanus@gmail.com / gaulitanafestival@gmail.com
Phone:	(+356) 77038971 / 21560200 / 21557593

Public Concert ends a very successful vocal master class by Miriam Gauci.

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