Soprano Ruth Sammut Casingena gave a splendid performance of Maltese traditional songs and contemporary adaptations in the historical city of Evora at the start of a three-day tour in Portugal representing Vittoriosa.

Accompanied by her team of Maltese dancers Jes Sciberras, Angelo Bonello, Dianne Portelli and Pamela Baldacchino Kerr, Ms Sammut Casingena was the highlight of the open-air festival held in the central square of Evora in a 40-minute performance that captured the enthusiasm of the crowd led by the Mayor of Evora, Ernesto Oliveira.

Ms Sammut Casingena was given a prolonged standing ovation by the audience at Giraldo Square in the heart of the historical city.

Mr Oliveira met Ms Sammut Casingena and her troupe after the show to personally congratulate them and said that like the city of Vittoriosa, Evora had a long history that represented the national spirit and that similarly, a thriving tourist trade helps both cities and their people project their country to the numerous visitors from all over the world who annually visit them.

The performance in Evora on Friday was followed by similar successful performances in Mertola on Saturday and Idana-a-Nova on Sunday.

The three festivals held in Portugal fall under the European Union sponsored Oralities Project that aims to help eight participating cities to share and exchange cultural values through music and language.

In October the local council of Vittoriosa will host the festival Music of the South.

Ms Sammut Casingena performed in another Oralities programme event in Vittoriosa last May together with three foreign groups: Roda Pe, representing Evora, Os Alentejanos, representing Mertola and Klez, representing Ravenna.