Opera in Malta from 1850 onwards: Towards a new Renaissance of the art-form in Gozo

Spiteri Cefai, Mariella (2024). Opera in Malta from 1850 onwards: Towards a new Renaissance of the art-form in Gozo. University of Birmingham. M.A.

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Abstract

Gozo is Malta’s sister island, with a population of 39,000 in an area of 67km². Hundreds of tourists cross the Gozo channel everyday to visit its’ crystal-clear beaches, museums and archaeological sites that recount its’ long history.
Gozo also hosts many cultural activities, amongst the grandest of which are the operas held at the two opera theatres located in the main street of Victoria. These two theatres, the Astra and Aurora are owned by two band clubs, the La Stella and the Leone respectively. Their long history and rivalry dates back to their inception in the 1860s, which in turn is based on religious divisions: the La Stella band support the feast of St. George while the Leone band supports the feast of the Virgin Mary. The two theatres are unique on the Maltese islands. There is no other theatre that can host over a thousand spectators and what makes them especially unique is that they are managed by club members rather than a professional organisation.
This thesis presents a summary of the history of opera in Malta, mostly focused on the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but its primary focus is the efforts made by opera enthusiasts to maintain performances after World War II, the role of the Astra and Aurora Theatres in Gozo in the process, and how these two theatres took over this art-form from mainland Malta.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.A.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.A.

Supervisor(s):