The Mozartfest Malta 2006, presented by the Renaissance Cultural Foundation, will reach its climax on Friday and Saturday with the Milan Sladek Mime Theatre innovative production of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Manoel Theatre at 7.30pm, with the use of life-size puppets taking the main roles.

This production has been touring the world since its premiere in 1991 in Seoul.

Sladek’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro, with visibly manipulated puppets, was inspired by the Commedia dell`Arte. Its grotesque and burlesque vividness goes very well with Mozart’s opera, because, in fact, who is Figaro, if not a Harlequin trying by trickery to outwit his master and fight for his rights?

The second source for the production is the traditional Japanese Bunraku theatre. In the course of his research into this particular theatrical form, Sladek was enchanted by the virtuosity of the puppeteers who were able to communicate even the most complicated internal processes. Bunraki is definitely one of the most perfect forms of world theatre.

The world-renowned Milan Sladek Mime Theatre also took part in the Mozart festivities this year in Vienna.

Mozartfest Malta 2006 – Reaching Youth through Music, a project co-financed by the Anna Lindh Euro-Med Foundation, is presented in collaboration with the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts with the support of the German Embassy, The Austrian Embassy, Lufthansa German Airlines, BAWAG Bank Malta, St James’ Cavalier, The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and the president and members of the Casino Maltese.

Tickets for Le Nozze di Figaro are available at Lm4, Lm6, Lm8, Lm10 and Lm12. Bookings: Tel 2124-6389. Fax. 2123-7340. e-mail: [email protected], website: www.manoel

theatre.com For further information tel. 2122-8836.