News

Madama Butterfly - October 2012

27 October 2011

As the curtain raises on the opening night of "Norma" and the 10th edition of Festival Mediterranea, Teatru Astra is pleased to announce the title of the opera production for the festival in 2012 - Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly". Teatru Astra will stick to its 10-year tradition of putting up...

Norma - Director's Notes

26 October 2011

Although Norma takes place in the times of the Roman conquest of Britain, the drama is perennial: two women who fall in love with the same man. Better still, a man who seduces and abandons his lover and his two sons, to woo her friend. Pollione, the Roman proconsul, whose constancy in inconstancy...

More music, history and culture in Festival Mediterranea

26 October 2011

Besides the opera Norma, held at Teatru Astra this week, Festival Mediterranea presentsa whole programme of cultural events that seek to unveil aspects of the islands’ richcultural treasures and heritage. Norma opens the tenth edition of the festival, with the firstperformance on Thursday and a second...

All set for double bill of the Norma

24 October 2011

All is now set for the double-representation of the opera Norma at the Astra Theatre in Victoria, with the curtain rising for the opening night tomorrow. A second performance will be held on Saturday.This year’s production sees another stellar cast, led by Greek soprano and legend Dimitra Theodossiou,...

Final preparations for 'Norma' at the upgraded facilities at Teatru Astra

23 October 2011

Final preparations are currently underway at Teatru Astra for this week’s double-representation of the opera Norma, at the upgraded facilities funded through an eco-Gozo Ministry for Gozo scheme for non-governmental organisations. The Hon. Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, visited Teatru Astra on Saturday...

Presentation of Norma painting

21 October 2011

Artist John L Grima (left) presents the original painting, commissioned by Teatru Astra for the poster of the upcoming opera production Norma, to Paul Zammit, President of Socjetà Filarmonika La Stella. In this painting, John Grima is inspired by the story revolving around the strong and determined Druid...

Restaurants in Victoria offering special menus for pre and after opera dinners

21 October 2011

The organizing committee of Festival Meditarranea would like to announce that two good restaurants in Victoria Gozo will be open, both before and after the opera Norma on Thursday 27th October and on Saturday 29th October. These two restaurants are Patrick's Tmun in Europe Street (Tel:21566667 email:...

An Outstanding Soprano for Norma

17 October 2011

Dimitra Theodossiou, the soprano engaged by Teatru Astra for the upcoming Norma title-role, is one of only a handful worldwide who is already a legend in her own time. She is internationally hailed by critics and opera reviewers for the ravishing quality of her vocal timbre, her exquisite interpretative...

Special Discounted Opera Tickets for Students

17 October 2011

Students 25 years old or under may benefit from heavily specially discounted tickets offered by Teatru Astra of Gozo for the upcoming opera production Norma, held at the same theatre on Thursday 27th and Saturday 29th October 2011. The Teatru Astra is once again repeating this scheme to enable students...

'Norma', a most challenging opera, again in Gozo

16 October 2011

Often labelled as the ‘Hamlet’ of Italian opera with the title role bearing one of the most difficult soprano roles in the bel canto Italian opera repertoire, it is no wonder that Norma is not so regularly performed. Composed by Vincenzo Bellini when he was only 30 years of age, and first performed...