In this year’s double-bill production for the Valletta Early Opera Festival, Festivals Malta and Teatru Manoel present two rarely staged one-act operas by Christoph Willibald Gluck: Il Parnaso Confuso & La Corona
Selected through the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, these two operas were composed in 1765 for the Habsburg court in the royal court of the palace of Schönbrunn in Vienna. Whilst Il Parnaso Confuso was written and performed in 1765 to celebrate the Archduke Joseph’s nuptial to Princess Maria Josepha of Bavaria, La Corona which was originally intended to be performed for Archduke Francis’ name day was only performed for the first time in 1987.
Il Parnaso Confuso is a witty and playful work that imagines the Muses of Mount Parnassuscompeting over who should perform at a royal wedding. The opera blends satire and charm, revealing the creative rivalries among the goddesses of music and poetry. The cast features Gillian Zammit as Apollo, Cledia Micallef as Euterpe, Gabrielle Portelli as Erato, and Caterina Iora as Melpomene.
La Corona presents a more dramatic and heroic tone, recounting the myth of the Calydonian Boar Hunt. The opera revolves around the question of who among the brave warriors deserves the honour of slaying the beast. Ultimately, the glory is attributed to the goddess Diana. Francesca Aquilina takes the role of Atalanta, with Gillian Zammit as Meleagro, Caterina Iora as Climene, and Bettina Zammit as Asteria.
This year, we're Brett Nicholas Brown will be stage directors with set design by Anthony Bonnici and costume design by Luke Azzopardi, known for his refined, historically informed aesthetic. Lighting design is by Moritz Zavan Stoeckle.
Together, these operas offer a compelling evening of contrasting tones brought to life by a largely Maltese cast and creative team.
Creative Team
Conductor & Assistant Conductor - Giulio Prandi & Giacomo Biagi
Stage Director - Brett Nicholas Brown
Costume Designer - Luke Azzopardi
Set Designer - Anthony Bonnici
Light Designer - Moritz Zavan Stoeckle
Cast
Il Parnaso Confuso
Apollo – Gillian Zammit
Euterpe – Cledia Micallef
Erato – Gabrielle Portelli
Melpomene – Caterina Iora
La Corona
Atalanta – Francesca Aquilina
Meleagro – Gillian Zammit
Climene – Caterina Iori
Asteria – Bettina Zammit
Orchestra
Arianna Art Ensemble
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Confessions are applicable to senior citizens (over 60 years), persons with a disability* (on presentation of a valid disability card), students (on presentation of student card), European Youth Card holders (on presentation of card), and minors (between 11 -16 years)
*Persons with a disability can send an email to bookings@teatrumanoel.mt for a complimentary companion ticket with a digital copy of the European Disability Card, and a copy of the ticket/s purchased.