Malta’s operatic home, Teatru Manoel is finally setting to stage its first full opera following the COVID-19 pandemic.

An all-star cast is taking the national theatre’s stage this upcoming March. They will be directed and joined by international opera star, José Cura as they bring to life one of the world’s most loved operas, Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca.

The Teatru Manoel and Valletta Cultural Agency co-production features Cura as Cavaradossi, Tanya Ivanova as Tosca and Carlos Almaguer as Scarpia, alongside a top local cast including Alan Sciberras, Albert Buttigieg, Louis Cassar and Nadia Vella.

The participation of the choir from KorMalta also enhances Puccini’s romantic score under the direction of chorus master Riccardo Bianchi, against the backdrop of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mario De Rose.

“Apart from myself, my team and the two other principal roles, everybody else on stage will be Maltese, from my friends of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra to the choir, the technicians, dressers, make-up artists, and so on”, explains Maestro Cura.

“Our mission is to strengthen Maltese theatrical structures so that we can repeat such beautiful projects in the future.”

The costumes will be designed by Silva Collazuol while an innovative set and stage are set to be designed by the director, Jose Cura himself.

“In order to tackle the Manoel’s pit space limitations, which have always prevented the staging of big operas, I have devised a structural change in the use of the stage to be able to use a full symphonic orchestra. This idea could signal a new staging approach which will bring the big operas to the Manoel in the future”, Maestro Cura reveals.

“Therefore, the audience should be ready to see and listen, with an open mind, to something different to the usual operatic setting, which traditionally has the orchestra in the pit and the action behind. Actually, we are going to do the opposite – come and see!”, he continued.

Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca will be performed at Teatru Maonel on 5th, 8th, 10th and 12th March, 2023 with all performances starting at 7:30pm.

Tickets are available via www.teatrumanoel.mt or by email to [email protected] and telephone on (+356) 2124 6389.