Pelopida
January 2026
Teatru Manoel
Pelopida – A recently rediscovered opera by Girolamo Abos
Reconstructed from manuscript sources, Festivals Malta's production of Pelopida is the first revival of Girolamo Abos' opera since 1747.
Inspired by the life of the Theban general Pelopidas, charting his rise from exile to revolutionary hero, the opera is set against the backdrop of political turmoil in ancient Greece. It follows his courageous fight to overthrow tyranny and restore freedom to his city. With themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and justice, Pelopida captures the spirit of resistance in the face of oppression.
HIGHLIGHTS
GALLERY
CREDITS
CAST
Pelopida
Valentino Buzza
Egisto
Filippo Mineccia
Aspasia
Lorrie Garcia
Oreste
Lucija Varsic
Clito
Vittoriana De Amicis
Ismene
Carlotta Colombo
Fate
Ruth Borg
Attendants
Kelly Peplow
Raphael Pace
Luigi Buhagiar
CREATIVE TEAM
Composer
Girolamo Abos
Librettist
Gaetano Roccaforte
Stage Director
Brett Nicholas Brown
Conductor
Giulio Prandi
Set Designer
Anthony Bonnici (EBEJER BONNICI)
Costume Designer
Luke Azzopardi
Light Designer
Moritz Zavan Stoeckle
Assistant Conductor
Michele Barbieri
Choreographer
Simon Riccardi-Zani
Project Lead (Set Design)
Antoni Garces
Project Assistant (Set Design)
Arjwan Hraga
Score Editor
Geoffrey Thomas
Répétiteur
Sofia Sciberras Narmania
PRODUCTION TEAM
Production Manager
Monique Saliba
Stage Manager
Monique Saliba
Deputy Stage Manager
Christian Arding
Props Mistress
Sarah Grech
Site Manager
Clint Bonavia
Stage Hand
Mario Cassar
Maestro di palcoscenico
Sigmund Mifsud
Hair
Lune Noire
Makeup
Gabriella Zammit Grungo
Libretto Translation
Mark Camilleri
Surtitlist
Albert Garzia
WORKING GROUP
Chairman
Aaron Zahra
Chief Executive Officer
Frans Agius
Manager (Festivals)
Thomas Grima
Programming & Productions Officer
Katriona Grixti
Artwork & Design
Diogo Marques
Website
Clayton Saliba
Communications
Christian Debono
Artistic Director
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
FESTIVALS MALTA TEAM
Director (Operations)
Etienne Bonello
Senior Manager (Operations)
Claudette Debono Farrugia
Administrative Consultant
Mario Azzopardi
Manager (Finance)
Carmen Meli
Managers (Festivals)
Leanne Abela Grech
Daryl Ebejer
Thomas Grima
Anton Miceli
Monique Saliba
Jeanelle Vella
Neil Zerafa
Manager (Logistics)
Martin Gauci
Manager (Communications & Marketing)
Caroline Agius
Executive (Communications)
Celine Caruana
Executive (Audience Development & Outreach)
Christian Debono
Executive (Festivals Development)
Sigmund Mifsud
Executive (Creative):
Terrence Cutajar
Clayton Saliba
Executive (Site Management)
Ruben Balzan
Clint Bonavia
Executive (Projects Management & Precincts)
Antoine Zammit
Programming & Productions Officers
Gay Sultana
Isabelle Gatt
Christian Arding
Christian Delia
Katriona Grixti
Mario Cassar
Charles Marsh
Senior Officer (Festivals)
Ryan Spiteri
Senior Officers (Communications)
Leo Chircop
Kris Polidano
Senior Officer (Creative)
Diogo Marques
Senior Officer (Archivist)
Felix Busuttil
Senior Officer (Administration)
Mariella Portelli
Senior Administration Officer
Ina Robinich
Technical Officer
Michael Belli
Senior Tradespersons
Saviour Busuttil
Patrick Cunningham
Colin Ellul
Alan Mifsud
Tradespersons:
Ian Zammit
TEATRU MANOEL TEAM
Chief Executive Officer
Edward Zammit
Chief Operations Officer
Pierre Vassallo
Artistic Director
Adrian Mamo
Assistant Director (Business Development)
Rachel Vella
Senior Manager (Operations)
Josef Baldacchino
Manager(Booking Office)
Michelle Mangion
Manager(Toi Toi Educational Programme)
Katherine Field
Manager(PR & Communications)
Maria Francalanza
Manager(Design & Branding)
Melanie Grioli
Manager(Stage Facilities)
Marvic Sultana
Manager(Procurement)
Rambert Attard
Senior Executive(Secretary)
Penelope Ciangura
Senior Executive(Finance)
Christine Aquilina
Senior Executive (Wardrobe Seamstress)
Dorothy Ebejer
Senior Executive (Carpentry, Stage Crew)
Johann Zammit
Executive Office (Maintenance)
Christian Agius
Executive Officer(Admin)
Bartolo Leondine
Executive Officer (Props Master & Stage Crew)
Melvin Seychell
Executive Officer (Stage Builder & Stage Crew)
Jimmy Tabone
Executive Officer (Theatrical Lighting & Stage Crew)
Mark Zammit
Executive Officer (Accounts & HR)
Nicole Zerafa
Executive Officer (Booking Office)
Jackie Gauci
Executive Officer (Wardrobe Seamstress)
Graziella Sammut
Officer(Theatre Assistant)
Joanne Axiaq
Officer(Stage Crew)
Trevor Desira
Officer (Wardrobe)
Anthony Grima
Officer (Light Technician & Stage Crew)
Nathaniel Mangion
Officer(Maintenance)
Ali Hamza
Officer(Maintenance)
Domenici Christopher
Officer (Theatre & Hospitality Assistant)
Lucy Vassallo
Production Assistant
Daniel Formosa
Stage Artist
Jake Edward Attard
Head Usher
Bryan Darmanin
Theatre Wardrobe Administration
Peresso Clement Gauci
Theatre Wardrobe Administration
Shanaia Zammit
Ushering & Theatre Assistant
Ruth Ellul
Booking Office
Andrew Gauci
TOI TOI Creative Associate
Nicole Faye Mallia Sciberras
Production Assistant
Hardie Rachel Farrugia
Social Media & Content Creator
Rebecca Zammit
Graphic Design(Marketing)
Ayrton Ciangura
