The Teatru Manoel BOV Performing Arts Festival for 2016 is about to commence. This was announced today by Ray Attard CEO of the Teatru Manoel and Charles Azzopardi, Head PR & Marketing at Bank of Valletta during a visit at the spectacular Teatru Manoel that will be housing the events lined up for the Festival of this year.
This year's edition of the Festival features the first ever production of Gluck's masterpiece Orphée et Eurydice at the Teatru Manoel. Whilst showing Mr Azzopardi around the stage, Mr Attard explained about the intensive work that went behind the scene. "Orphée et Eurydice posed several challenges. Inspired by the High Victorian era, the creative team had to recreate the atmosphere of the underworld where the protagonist Orphéé follows his spouse, in a bid to bring her back from the dead, immediately after they are wed."
This opera is a veritable masterpiece in many respects. Gluck's intrinsic drama and lyrics are complemented by the wardrobe and the abstract set that provides the flexibility necessary for the dancers of Zfin Malta that will be part of the production. A lot of research went on behind the choice of fabric and colours that trace the moods as well as evolution of the protagonists from the first note to the last.
Admiring the collection of costumes and the stage, Charles Azzopardi complimented Ray Attard on the manner in which haute couture becomes a protagonist in its own right in this opera. "When Bank of Valletta joined forces with the Teatru Manoel over a decade ago, the goal was to promote different artistic forms and make them more accessible to the general public. A lot has been achieved since then. We are particularly thrilled that this Festival will be bringing such a masterpiece to our audiences, not only because it is the first time it is being performed at the Teatru Manoel, thereby introducing the audience to an influential composer of Gluck's calibre, the French opera and the genre of azione teatrale. Furthermore, as Mr Attard explained, this production brings together different genres and talents that we do not often see in such close proximity, thereby making it a veritable cultural experience. In this manner, this production truly expresses what the Teatru Manoel BOV Performing Arts Festival stands for."
Two other numbers are lined up for this Festival. First up is the popular Toi Toi Big Band Concert, a performance for all the family on Easter Sunday. This will be followed by the inimitable international Nicholas McCarthy: the one-handed pianist who will be performing at the Teatru Manoel on the 13th April.
Performances are on March 16, 17 and 20. Tickets can be purchased from ww.teatrumanoel.com.mt, by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling 2124 6389.