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Calendar of Events2011 - 2012

September 2011

October 2011

Friday 30th September

The 2011 - 2012 season opens with “Concerto per l’Unità d’Italia”; a concert of operatic music by Italian composers Bellini, Donizetti, Puccini, Catalani and Verdi. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and well-known soprano Lucia Aliberti perform under the baton of the theatre’s Music Director Brian Schembri. The concert is being held in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy and the Istituto Culturale Italiano.

Sunday 2nd October

The 12th May Band Club from a - ebbu will be holding “Celebrate Us”; a Symphonic Band Concert featuring euphonium soloist David Childs from the United Kingdom. The programme will feature works by Vella, Ponchielli, Shostakovich, Farrugia-Frantz, Rossini and Jenkins.

Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October

“L-G anja ta - inju” (Socrates’ swansong). This two-act play in Maltese by Joe Friggieri was awarded First Prize in last year’s Francis Ebejer national playwriting competition organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Dealing with the trial and death of Socrates in 399 B.C., the play shows the great philosopher being charged with corrupting the young by his teaching and trying to defend himself in front of a popular jury prejudiced by Aristophanes’ satirical portrayal of him in The Clouds. Produced by Teatru Manoel, directed by Albert Marshall, choreographed by Mavin Khoo,“L-G anja tac- inju” brings together a fine set of actors led by Michael Tabone in the main role.

Tuesday 11th October

Highly acclaimed Italian pianist Roberto Cominati revisits the theatre in a recital featuring Schumann’s exuberant Carnaval and a series of dazzling transcriptions by Sgambati-Gluck, Liszt-Handel, Godowsky-Bach and Moskowsky-Bizet.

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th October

Following last year’s success, the International Purves Puppets Company of Scotland will be performing “The Firebird”; an exciting new adaptation set to Stravinsky’s beautiful ballet music; an enchanting story to delight the whole family!

*Thursday 20th October

“Piano recital by Sofia Narmania”.

Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd October

Compania Corrado Abbati presents a production of the popular operetta “Il Paese dei Campanelli”. The Lombardo and Ronzato operetta is set in a village where bells hang on each door. The bells are supposed to sound each time an act of adultery occurs in the house. The village sees the arrival of a ship full of sailors and later another carrying their wives… a musical treat full of humour set in a beautiful mise-en scene.

Friday 28th October

To inaugurate the theatre’s recently purchased harpsichord, Teatru Manoel presents a concert by baroque ensemble “Les Paladins”; one of the most prestigious baroque ensembles in France. Jerome Correas will direct from the harpsichord. The ensemble presents 17th century Italian dramatic repertoire and the French opéra comique of the 18th century. The concert will also feature soprano Dorothée Lorthiois, Mezzo Soprano Sophie Harmsen in works by Vivaldi and Pergolesi.

Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October

Teatru Manoel and American Drama Group Europe (ADGE) present Tour de Force Theatre in Malta’s first ever staging of American classic “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, adapted by Peter Joucla.

November 2011

*Thursday 3rd November

A chamber concert featuring works by contemporary composers Veronique Vella, Katrina Burton, Alex Vella Gregory and Gyorgi Ligeti executed by Claire Ghigo (mezzo soprano), Lino Pirotta (clarinet), Tricia Dawn Williams, Veronique Vella (piano), Tatjana Chircop (violin) and Rebecca Hall (flute).

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th November

Teatru Manoel in collaboration with B.L.E.E.P presents “The Magical Variety“ a spectacular production full of magic, illusion and other variety acts by Malta’s leading entertainers; including illusionists, magicians, balloon artists and balancers who will be presenting their most cutting edge performances in a night to remember.

Tuesday 8th November

Jazz pianist and composer Dominic Galea presents a new set of jazz compositions in a performance with Mario ‘Cocker’ Aquilina on double bass and Noel Grech on drums along with popular jazz classics and various guest artists.

Wednesday 9th November

Teatru Manoel in collaboration with the French Embassy will be holding “A Night of Silent-Movie Music” of Georges Méliès during which scenes from various silent movies will be projected.

Friday 11th November

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Resident Conductor Michael Laus will perform Brahms’s monumental Fourth Symphony in E Minor. Michael Laus takes on the dual role of soloist and conductor in Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto in C Minor.

Sunday 13th November

The annual band concert organized by the G aqdaKa ini tal-Baned will feature the L’Isle Adam Band Club from Rabat (Malta).

Monday 14th to Sunday 20th November

“Kutrumbajsa” Kids and Youths Arts Festival.

December 2011

Tuesday 22nd November

The Polish Embassy presents an evening of 20th and 21st Century chamber music by Polish composers Szymanowski, Lutoslawsky, Gorecki, Szymanski, Lutoslawski, Penderrecki, Mykietyn’s Shakespeare’s sonnets for soprano and piano

Tuesday 29th November

Well-known Maltese pianist Kathleen de Domenico in a concert of chamber music along with the “TrioCoriolis” Michaela Buchholz violin, Klaus Peter Werani viola and Hamo Simons‘ cello playing works by Mahler, Beethoven and Brahms.

Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th December

“Teatru Unplugged” which since the first performance in 1998 has seen the participation of some of Malta’s best musical artists in an evening of popular music in a classic setting.

Wednesday 7th December

To commemorate the centenary of the death of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, Teatru Manoel presents a “Lieder Recital”.

*Thursday 8th December

An oboe and piano recital featuring Paolino Tona (oboe) and Marco Rivoltini (piano) performing works by Bach, Berio, Ponchielli, Schumann, Hindemith and Dorati.

Saturday 10th December

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Brian Schembri performs an extravaganza of 20th and 21st Century works by Mariella Cassar, Valentin Silvestrov, John Cage, Eurico Carrapatuoso, Chris Best, Daniele del Lungo and Charles Camilleri.

Monday 12th December

Fiesole Artistic Productions in collaboration with the Istituto Culturale Italiano present “Una Serata All’Operetta – An Evening Of Operetta”. Operetta singers from Laboratorio Lirico Europeo of Milan, Italy, will perform popular selections from the Viennese, Italian, Spanish, French, English and Hungarian operettas.

January 2012

Tuesday 13th December

“Beland Band Club’s 150th Year Anniversary Concert” featuring works amongst others by Beethoven, Khachaturian, Diacono and Smetana under the baton of Raymond Sciberras

Wednesday 14th December

Dar il-Kaptan will be celebrating its “20th Anniversary Concert” featuring arrangements for wind band performed under the direction of David Agius in a programme of works by Rossini, Strauss and Suppé. The programme also includes local compositions and a selection of arias and Neapolitan songs.

Friday 16th December

Teatru Manoel and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra present acclaimed French pianist of Maltese descent Brigitte Engerer performing Saint Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major (The Egyptian) under the baton of Resident Conductor Michael Laus. The MPO will also perform Cherubini’s Overture Anacreon and Schubert’s iconic 9th Symphony “The Great”.

Sunday 26th December to 8th January

FM Productions’ pantomime “Ali Baba” has been chosen to lighten up the festive season in an evening teeming with outrageous dames, spectacular costumes, exotic settings and a sledgeful of wit.

Tuesday 10th January

Well-known Maltese Paris-based jazz musician and composer Sandro Zerafa presents music from his latest album entitled “Urban Poetics”.

Friday 13th January

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Peter Stark presents Antonin Dvo ák’s Concerto No. 1 in F Sharp Minor Symphony No. 8 in G Major and popular Maltese violinist Carmine Lauri in Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No 1.

February 2012

Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd January

Maleth presents “Alice in Wonderland”, a musical based on the evergreen classic by Lewis Caroll.

Tuesday 24th January

“An Evening Of Chamber Music” consisting of a double bass and piano recital featuring contrabassist Gjorgji Cincievski and pianist Rosetta De Battista performing works by Bottesini, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Gliere, Schumann, Massenet and Paganini.

Saturday 28th January

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra presents its “Music Education Programmes” for children, youths and their families with a number of morning performances for students and an evening performance for the general public; presented by Sarah Spiteri with special effects and 3D projections by Nicholas Critien illustrating works by Beethoven, Smetana, Stravinsky, Williams and young Maltese composer Steve Psaila.

Friday 3rd February

Teatru Manoel and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra present a concert conducted by the theatre’s Music Director Brian Schembri and featuring violinist Alexandre da Costa performing Beethoven’s only concerto for the instrument. Beethoven’s rumbustuous Symphony No. 7 will also be performed.

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th February

On the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, Teatru Manoel and American Drama Group Europe (ADGE) proudly present TNT Theatre-Britain in an adaptation of Dickens’ best loved hero, “Oliver Twist” – The play is directed by Paul Stebbings, whose production for the Manoel last year of “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, was a hit with audiences, presents the facts through Fagin’s eyes.

March 2012

Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th February

Mellow Drama presents a stage production of popular sitcom “Yes, Prime Minister!” Great institutions have a way of riding punches and bouncing back unscathed. Will it prove to be so for Jim Hackett and his team of close advisers?

Tuesday 14th February

Beatrice Martin performs on the theatre’s new Jacques Braux 1998 harpsichord in a programme of baroque solo favourites.

*Thursday 23rd February

Pianist Gabi Sultana performs contemporary music featuring works by, Huber, Moore, Ligeti and Crumb.

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th February

The Beltango Quinteto from Belgrade - Serbia, is the first authentic tango orchestra from the Balkans and one of the most popular tango orchestras in Europe.

“Colores del Tango” is full of passion, emotion and artistic beauty. The performance fuses the passionate steps of the Argentinean tango with the sounds of an authentic 5-piece tango ensemble consisting of accordion, piano/vocal, violin, electric guitar, and double bass.

Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th March

Teatru Manoel in collaboration with local theatre company Talenti presents Eduardo De Filippo’s masterpiece “Filumena Marturano” with Jane Marshall and Mario Micallef in the title roles. The play which was written in 1946 remains an all time favourite with Maltese theatre lovers.

Tuesday 6th March

Teatru Manoel presents “An Evening of Chamber Music” featuring Gerard Caussé on the viola and Felipe Ribeiro Pinto at the piano in works by Hindemith, Beethoven and Franck.

*Thursday 8th March

A vocal recital by participants from Maltese soprano Juliette Bisazza’s master classes.

Saturday 10th March

A spectacular evening of Iberian dance by Puerto Flamenco, an eclectic flamenco company from the heart of Seville, employing current trends in authentic flamenco full of unrestrained energy, raw emotion and commanding virtuosity promises an overwhelming response from international audiences and reviewers alike.

Thursday 15th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th March

“Il Trovatore” by Giuseppe Verdi. Following the success of last year’s production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”, the opera will once again be conducted by Damiano Binetti with the participation of Kim Kisun and Antonino Interisano alternating as Manrico, Katarina Vovkova and Liana Sass alternating as Eleonora and Svatopluk Sem as the Conte di Luna. Maltese bass Albert Buttigieg will be taking on the role of Ferrando.

Wednesday 21st March

The Carlo Rizzo Trio plays in “A Night of Ethnic Music”. Three virtuoso, performers and composers, namely Carlo Rizzo (percussions and voice), Michel Mandel (clarinets and taragot) and Norbert Pignol (accordion), play original pieces by Carlo Rizzo (the internationally reputed Tambourine virtuoso) in music influenced by ethnic jazz with an international flavour.

Friday 23rd March

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra world premiere of MPO composer-in-residence Joseph Vella’s Concerto for Piccolo & Orchestra (soloist Nicola Mazzanti). Concert also features Natascha Chircop & Marco Rivoltini performing 2 concertos for two pianos by Harl McDonald and Malcolm Arnold.

Saturday 24th March

On the occasion of their 150th anniversary Peace Band Club of Naxxar will hold a band concert a cantata entitled “L-G anja tal-Pa i” with lyrics by Fr Richard Borg and music by Karl Fiorini. The band will be directed by Lino Pirotta.

April 2012

May 2012

Tuesday 10th to Sunday 15th April

“The International Spring Festival” has become an annual event in the calendar and is produced by Maltese composer Karl Fiorini with the participation of the Rotterdam Ensemble under the baton of Roberto Beltran.

Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd, Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April

MADC presents the classic play “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring directed by Josette Ciappara. The play is a black comedy classic revolving around Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and not to mention the local police in Brooklyn, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry his ‘girl-next-door’ fiancée.

*Thursday 26th April

The ProMu ika Ensemble and pianist Caroline Calleja perform works by Vella, Muscat, Messiaen and Bartok.

Friday 4th May

Teatru Manoel and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra perform under the baton of Gintaras Rinckevicius. The programme will feature pianist Yozef Ormeny performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rimsky Korsakov’s colourful narrative Scheherazade.

Sunday 12th May

Fiesole Artistic Productions with the collaboration of the Italian Cultural Institute presents La Scala opera singers in a concert entitled “I Grandi Operisti Italiani”. Soprano Roberta Canzian and baritone Mario Cassi supported by pianist Ulla Casalini, will perform selections from “Il Barbiere di Siviglia”, “Don Pasquale”, “La Traviata”, “Boheme” and “Rigoletto”.

*Thursday 17th May

A Piano Recital by Alexei Galea.

Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th May

Teatru Manoel in collaboration with the Malta Drama Centre and the U.S. Embassy present “Desire under the Elms” a play by Eugene O’Neill.

Friday 25th May

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra concludes its four-concert series in style with an all-British programme featuring soprano Gillian Zammit singing Britten’s “Les Illuminations” under the direction of Michael Laus. Leader Marcelline Agius will perform the solo in Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and the evening concludes with Elgar’s magnificent Enigma Variations.

Teatru Manoel reserves the right to cancel, amend or implement any changes to this calendar of events without prior notice.

115, Old Theatre Street, Valletta VLT1426, MaltaT: (+356) 2124 6389 F: (+356) 2124 7451

bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt | www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

Dates indicated by an * denote that the performance will take place in Sala Isouard as part of the theatre’s Spotlight Series

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