An unforgettable night at Teatru Astra in Gozo awaits as the much-anticipated premiere of Joseph Vella’s first opera, Valeriana The Titan’s Rock, takes center stage on Saturday, May 4th, at 7.30 pm. Rehearsals are in full swing for this story of the clash of two men driven by hate, paranoia, and illusions of grandeur, in a story blending comedy and tragedy.

Valeriana The Titan’s Rock Opus 155, a four-act opera composed by the late Maestro Joseph Vella and completed by Maestro Christopher Muscat, himself a former composition student of Vella. The opera is based on a libretto by Vincent Vella, the regional winner for Europe in the BBC World Service Radio Playwrighting Competition 2007. This beautiful opera will be conducted by none other than Mro Muscat himself who will be leading the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra for this world premiere.

The stage is set for an unforgettable evening, with a creative team of some of the best names in the artistic world, such as Denise Mulholland who is directing the opera, Luke Azzopardi, who is curating and designing the costumes, and Anthony Bonnici, who is designing the set. The cast is made up of local and international talent, with the participation of Miriam Cauchi as Teresa, Andrés Moreno García as Rosario, Louis Andrew Cassar as Cirillo, and Ilyas Sultana as Nello amongst others.

Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, Valeriana The Titan’s Rock follows the gripping tale of Rosario, a Maltese fisherman, who, having married a local girl, finds himself stranded on the tiny Italian island of Valeriana under the oppressive rule of the fascist podestà, Cirillo. Having failed to convert Valeriana into another Capri for fascist officials, he now wants to turn it into an impregnable fortress against the Allied Forces, with dire consequences for the inhabitants. It is a comic situation, but one which can and does have tragic outcomes.

Valeriana The Titan’s Rock is being produced by Festivals Malta, on the occasion of the Maltabiennale.art 2024, with the support of the Ministry for Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, and with the collaboration of Teatru Astra. More information and tickets can be found on valeriana.mt.

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