Miriam Cauchi will be singing in the concert on Tuesday at the Manoel Theatre commemorating Mozart. She studied with Blagovesta Dobreva at the Sofia State Music Academy in Bulgaria, from where she graduated with honours and is also the recipient of the Svetoslav Obretenov Prize of the XIV Bulgarian National Competition. She made her operatic debut at the Varna Opera House (Bulgaria) with the leading soprano role of the Adina in Donizetti’s opera L’Elisir d’Amore. She later repeated this role alongside tenor Joseph Calleja in Malta at the Manoel Theatre. Miriam Cauchi continued to pursue her studies in Milan, Italy, with Juliette Bisazza Zanni and later joined the master classes of Magda Olivero in Barcelona.

She has since appeared on the concert platform singing several sacred works as well as recitals of operatic excerpts and has also recorded a number of works by leading Maltese composers, including a set of CDs of Baroque music, which include the Stabat Mater by Girolamo Abos.

Her American debut took place at the Lincoln Centre, New York where she participated in a concert at the Alice Tully Hall during September 2001. In June 2002, Miriam Cauchi was engaged to sing the leading soprano role in the Malta Premiere Performance of Puccini’s early opera Le Villi. Later that year she was invited to sing in the Mediterranea Festival in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera. In 2002 and 2004, she gave recitals in the Victoria International Arts Festival which showed her versatility both in opera and lieder. In 2003, she gave a concert of operatic arias with the Orkestra Nazzjonali as part of the Mediterranea Festival with critical acclaim. During 2004, she made her successful concert debut at the Berlin Konzerthaus with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lior Shambadal. She also represented Malta in a gala concert Opera Operissima at the Slovenia National Theatre, to mark Malta’s entry into the European Union, which was broadcast live on 1 May by the Slovenian national television. In summer of the same year, she was invited to participate in the XIII Festival Mitte Europa in Bavaria, where she gave an operatic and lieder recital with great success. In September, she returned to the Berlin Konzerthaus where she gave a recital to mark the 40 years of Independence and the entry of Malta into the European Union. In 2005, her engagements in Malta included the soprano role in Orff’s Carmina Burana at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and Lloyd Weber’s Requiem held at the St John’s Co-Cathedral.

n Star sign and date of birth?

Aquarius – my birthday is on 22 January. Yes by a great coincidence it’s today.

n Significant other? Children?

My beloved, dedicated soul mate husband Simon and our adorable daughter Clara… they are my world.

n What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

Singing and more singing and enjoying my

family.

n What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Having peace of mind, tranquillity and feeling fulfilled in one’s profession.

n What is your favourite occupation?

I am lucky that my work is exactly what I love doing most, singing and sharing the art of singing with my students.

n What is your greatest fear?

Rodents! Excluding squirrels.

n What is it that you most value in your friends?

Honesty and being always true and loyal, regardless of the situation.

n How would you like to die?

It is not my choice to make so I will leave it in His hands…

n What is your greatest extravagance?

Ehm!!! Watches, clothes and of course, good restaurants.

n What is your greatest regret?

Not having met my husband before but then again we would not be the persons we are now.

n What is your most treasured possession?

My collection of music scores and biographies.

n Which talent would you most like to have apart from the one you already have?

I am fortunate enough already. None.

n What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Living without music.

n Where would you like to live?

Malta and Gozo.

n What is your most marked characteristic?

People who know me really well say that I am a very good listener.

n Who are your heroes/ heroines in real life?

People who dedicate their life to helping others.

n What is it that you most dislike?

Hypocrisy.

n What is your motto?

It’s not what you achieve in life; it’s how you get there.