What happened to Elisabeth Mann, youngest daughter of Thomas Mann? And why was she compared to the image of the sea?

The relationship between Thomas Mann and Elisabeth Mann Borgese, which has a particular focus – the sea - has gripped Peter Serracino-Inglott to create the intriguing Maltese opera entitled Elisabeth; or to be a Mann.

The opera, with music by Charles Camilleri, will be premiered in its fully staged version on Wednesday at 8.30pm at the Valletta Waterfront.

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature for a novel based on family tradition and conflict, Thomas Mann regarded the sea as the symbol of chaotic revolution which threatened the traditional civilisation which Mann loved. He felt that as a father he should mould his daughter in the same way as he shaped the characters in his novels. He thought of her as the symbol of the new order which was to emerge after the deluge of the World Wars and revolutions of the 20th century.

The opera explores Elisabeth’s battle against the idea of a destiny cut out for her by her father.

Elisabeth; or to be a Mann is scored for a chamber combination of violin, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and tuba. The two main characters are The Magus (Thomas Mann) who will be interpreted by bass Albert Buttigieg and the Little Girl (Elisabeth) who will be sung by soprano Rosabelle Bianchi.

The stage design by artist Norbert Francis Attard promises something very different from usual and the stage director is Mario Frendo. The opera is sponsored by the International Ocean Institute, of which Elisabeth Mann Borgese was a founding member and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Production is by Davinia Galea and Mario Frendo for Fondation de Malte.

Elisabeth; or to be a Mann is preceded by a concert of the chamber music of Charles Camilleri by the Medit Chamber Players. The members, Nadia R. DeBono (violin), Mario Frendo (viola), Simon Abdilla Joslin (cello) and Davinia Galea (piano) are all established musicians who specialise mainly in Baroque and contemporary music. Their programme will include the Kanti Popolari with lyrics by Joe Friggieri sung by Rosabelle Bianchi. The event is supported by the National Orchestra and the Manoel Theatre.

The concert is part of Festival Malta 2005, organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc and VISET plc.

Ticket prices are Lm5 and can be obtained from The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts at 230 Republic Street, Valletta, Tel: 2124-5168 (open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 12 noon), or from the booking office at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Tel: 2122-3200 (open from 10am to 9pm daily). www.fondationdemalte.org or www.maltaculture.com