Special Discounted Opera Tickets for Students

Students 25 years old or under may benefit from heavily special discounted tickets offered by the Teatru Astra of Gozo for the upcoming opera production Rigoletto, held at the Teatru Astra on Thursday 29th and Saturday 31st October 2009.

The Teatru Astra is once again repeating this scheme to enable students to familiarise themselves with opera and enjoy the marvellous experience of this beautiful art form. In this way, a new generation of young opera lovers may be fostered. The scheme was initially launched with success in 2008.

200 tickets are thus being made available on a first-come first-served basis to students aged 25 years or under in Malta or Gozo for the first night of the opera production on Thursday 29th October.

The tickets have been heavily reduced from the original price of €50 to €10 per student, with any other accompanying adult also benefiting from a 20% discount at the price of €40.

Booking may be done on 21550985 or 99883007, or via email at [email protected]

At the same time, Teatru Astra would like to invite opera patrons and the public and private sectors to participate in this educational programme by contributing with a small donation. The production of a full-blown opera of high calibre every year is extremely onerous for Festival Mediterranea. A donation towards the student scheme is a worthy cultural gesture that opens up a window of opportunities for students and young people to the rich world of opera. All donations are welcome.

The Teatru Astra opera production of Verdi's Rigoletto sees a cast of high repute with Italian tenor Antonino Interisano and Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi who last year both graced the Astra's stage with a formidable performance in Turandot, appearing as il Duca and Gilda respectively.  Peter Danailov, a Bulgarian baritone, will sing the title-role in his first appearance in Malta.  Franco De Grandis, an Italian bass, and mezzo-soprano Emilia Boteva, as Sparafucile and Maddalena both have performed at the Astra in recent years.

Rigoletto also involves the Teatru Astra Opera Chorus under the direction of resident chorus mistress Maria Frendo. Music director Prof. Mro. Joseph Vella will direct the National Philharmonic Orchestra while Italian stage director Mario Corradi is once again being entrusted with this production.