BOV supports Gozo Opera – ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and ‘I Pagliacci’ at Teatru Aurora
Bank of Valletta will be extending its support to Socjetà Filarmonika Leona for its double-bill representation of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at Teatru Aurora on 14 October.
This was announced during a press conference which was addressed by Mario Mallia, the bank’s chief executive officer and Dr Michael Caruana, president of Socjetà Filarmonika Leone.
They were accompanied by Esther Bajada, director for Tourism and Economic Development within the Ministry for Gozo and Elaine Falzon from Arts Council Malta, the two entities running the Gozo Cultural Support Programme.
In his brief intervention, Mallia spoke about the importance of nourishing the islands’ cultural portfolio: “It gives me great satisfaction to announce our support towards this representation by the Leone Philharmonic Society and Aurora Opera House. This year, the audience will enjoy two representations, which will be performed together in this theatre for the very first time.”
He also remarked that several of the cast members lined up are local talents, saying that the theatre is providing the means for them to showcase their skills alongside their international peers, thereby helping their artistic development. “Bank of Valletta takes its role as patron of local arts and culture very much to heart and strongly believes in providing the public with more opportunities to admire and become better acquainted with the fascinating world of performing arts.”
Dr Caruana thanked Bank of Valletta for its ongoing support, which has helped to secure a future for the theatre and the lyric opera in Gozo. He said that aside of government funding, which has been largely consistent, it is time for opera in Gozo, which turns 40 years old this year, to realise its full potential in that it may become a prominent marketing and advertising platform for companies and business organisations. This will help opera in Gozo become more sustainable in the long run.
Matthew Sultana, Aurora secretary presented details of the cast and production. Bajada from the Ministry for Gozo underlined the importance of the opera-in-Gozo phenomenon that makes Gozo in autumn as busy and attractive as Gozo in the summer season.
From a cultural point of view, Falzon explained how the Gozo Cultural Support Programme – a joint initiative between Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Gozo – is intended to support the opera production from financial, technical and administrative aspects with which, for instance, capacity building and organisational strategies may be improved.