The Bank of Valletta Opera Festival opened with a full house at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta with the opening night featuring a performance of Verdi’s Falstaff.

The production marked the BOV’s first collaboration with the Italian theatre company Teatro Borgatti from Cento in Italy. Artistic direction was in the hands of Giovanni Dispenza while Matteo Taverna was technical director and Philippe Partridge, stage assistant. Musical direction was by Mro Michael Laus, who directed the National Orchestra.

The production of Falstaff saw a number of seasoned performers from Teatro Borgatti making up the line-up for the cast. The title role was performed by Paolo Drigo alongside Valentina Coladonato in the role of Alice Ford. Luisa Mauro Partridge was Meg, and Francesca Bruni, Nannetta.

The performance is being repeated tomorrow.