Norma, Bellini's ultimate love story, will be the operatic production for this year's Gaulitana: A Festival of Music. Following on last year's "triumphant" Madama Butterfly with Miriam Gauci, the opera promises to be a spectacular night for opera buffs.

Amarilli Nizza shall debut in the title-role of Norma, interpreting this part at the peak of her vocal prowess. Boasting a career spanning over 25 years interpreting more than 60 major operatic roles, the acclaimed soprano has performed at Covent Garden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper and Verona, among other prestigious venues. Her vocal nuances and intense characterisations shall endear patrons, merging the fiery spirit of the priestess together with the mother instinct, willing to sacrifice her life for the sake of her children.

Tenor Stefan Pop will be returning to our shores following his successful Germont at Teatru Aurora, impressing audiences and critics alike with his "beautiful voice". He will sing Pollione in Gozo just before reprising the role at La Fenice with Mariella Devia, following the productions of Genova, Madrid and Naples.

Adalgisa shall be interpreted by Anna Maria Chiuri, defined as "the star of the show" in Verona's Norma for her vocal lines and noble phrases. The mezzo-soprano shares a great affinity with Nizza, both starring in Aida at Verona and Suor Angelica at the Maggio Musicale. This summer, Chiuri will be performing as Herodias in Salome at Salzburg Festival.

Another familiar name to local opera connoisseurs, Gabriele Sagona, shall sing Oroveso after interpreting Colline in Teatru Astra's La Boheme. Filippo Micale and Stephanie Portelli shall complement the cast as Flavio and Clotilde respectively.

This opera production will have English surtitles, a first for operas in Gozo. Such initiatives further underlines Gaulitana's role as the island's "main classical music festival". Besides, the Ggantija Temples will serve as the inspiration for the production's sets.

Norma will feature as part of the Opera+ Weekend, three days of cultural bonanza presenting a guitar concert at Ggantija on Friday, a Talk and Curator's Tour on Saturday morning with Daniel Cilia, Enrico Castiglione and Daphne Caruana (Ggantija's Curator), a Pre-Opera Talk by Albert G. Storace, and a Finale with soloist Philip Attard (saxophone) and the Gaulitana String Orchestra.

Gaulitana is supported by the Gozo Cultural Support Programme of Arts Council Malta in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo, Valletta 18 and Heritage Malta.

'Norma' will be held on 28 April. Booking is open, directly online on www.teatruaurora.com or via ticket helpline 7904 5779.