Gozo's main classical music festival returns and, running from 25 February to 2 April, it will feature a multifarious programme of events in various genres and styles.
Acclaimed by public and critics alike, the OPERA+ Weekend (31 March - 2 April) will present 3 days of cultural bonanza highlighted with the full-scale production of Madama Butterfly at Teatru tal-Opra Aurora. Miriam Gauci shall return to grace the stage leading a stellar cast featuring Vincenzo Costanzo, one of the top 10 tenors worldwide. Colin Attard will conduct the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra with Enrico Castiglione reviving his production from the Teatro Antico di Taormina.
Evening concerts abound presenting a number of international and local established artists. These include Michael Laus, the Goldberg Trio and a solo recital by Malta Philharmonic's newly appointed assistant leader Reggie Clews besides artists deriving from South Korea, Russia, USA and Egypt, amongst others.
This edition will also feature Artist-in-Residence Alexander Frey, a musician defined by Leonard Bernstein as "a wonderful spirit". Apart from recitals, he will collaborate with a local artist on a work presented during the festival.
An Espresso series will present weekly lunchtime concerts for civil servants whereas TALK re u will include a number of talks related to upcoming concerts. GAULearn, the festival's education programme shall feature again #Opera4me, an initiative rendering opera more accessible to young students.
In line with Gaulitana's organic nature, this edition will also commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, defined by Puccini as the "greatest hope of German music" and regarded as one of the founders of film music.
The festival will open officially with a semi-staged performance of the musical Show Boat whilst the Finale shall feature Vivaldi's Four Seasons and Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
Gaulitana is supported by the Gozo Cultural Support Programme of Arts Council Malta in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo and of the Malta EU Presidency.