About the Valletta Early Opera Festival
The Valletta Early Opera Festival is an annual celebration of early opera held in Malta’s historic capital, Valletta. It showcases performances of works from the canon of early opera which are rarely performed, focusing on underperformed pieces by acclaimed composers as well as others who have fallen by history’s wayside.
Now in its second edition, this fledgling festival which is under the Artistic Direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, is a carefully curated experience for persons to experience a greater variety of operatic music with a creative team and cast which foster international collaboration. The 3rd edition will take place in November 2025.
About Pelopida
Approaching its third edition, the Valletta Early Opera Festival presents Italo-Maltese composer Girolamo Abos’ Pelopida, a recently rediscovered opera. For this reprise that has been hundreds of years in the making, this piece will be under the baton of Maestro Giulio Prandi and will be accompanied by a Maltese creative team with Luke Azzopardi as costume designer and Anthony Bonnici as set designer.
The Narrative
Pelopida, once exiled from Thebes, returns to overthrow the tyrannical rule of King Creonte of Crete, reclaiming the city with a small group of loyal warriors. Egisto, Crete’s ambassador, demands that Thebes surrender its independence, but Pelopida firmly refuses, vowing to keep the city free and urging the Thebans to fight to the death.
Egisto plots to undermine Pelopida by exploiting the secret love between Pelopida’s son, Clito, and Aspasia, the daughter of Pisistratus. Manipulated by the fear of losing Aspasia, Clito reluctantly betrays his people. However, after realizing the gravity of his betrayal, Clito repents and fights bravely for Thebes, regaining his honor.
Despite Clito’s heroism in battle, Pelopida, angered by his earlier treachery, condemns his son to death. Aspasia and Ismene, who both love Clito, plead for his life, but Pelopida remains resolute, believing that the law must be upheld, even at the cost of his son’s life. Just as the situation seems hopeless, Clito returns victorious from battle, and the people, along with Egisto's news of Creonte lifting the siege, persuade Pelopida to pardon his son, ending the story in a celebration of Thebes' freedom.
The Venue
This staging of this incredibly rarely performed opera will be set on the stage of the Teatru Manoel, one of Europe’s oldest functioning theatres. This baroque-style theatre serves as an intimate-yet-grandiose stage for this long lost opera.
Roles & Pieces for Audition
ISMENE
Daughter of the great Pisistrato, Athenian, and lover of Clito
Vocal Range: soprano, range d4-si5
Pieces for Audition: Act I, scene VI - Aria Or che tua figlia
Pieces for Audition: Act III, scene II - recitativo Io disperar non voglio + Aria Se è ver
ASPASIA
Daughter of the great Pisistrato, Athenian, and lover of Clito
Vocal Range: soprano II / mezzo-soprano, range A3 - F4
Pieces for Audition: Act I, Scene X - Aria Son confusa, son smarrita
Pieces for Audition: Act II, Scene X - Recitativo accompagnato (from "Ah, rinnovate", b. 17) + Aria No, non mi so risolvere
CLITO
Son of Pelopida, the supreme ruler of Thebes, destined to marry Ismene but secret lover of Aspasia
Vocal Range: counter-tenor/sopranista, soprano di coloratura, range B3-re6
Pieces for Audition: Act I, Scene V - recitativo Che laberinto è questo + Aria Sento che a suo talento
Pieces for Audition: Act III, Scene IX - Aria Non è tutto in questo giorno, excerpt from b. 50 to b. 85]
General Information & How to Apply
The audition will take place at Sala Isouard, Teatru Manoel on 27th October 2024 between 10am-6pm. Access to Teatru Manoel for this audition can be gained from 81, Old Mint Street, Valletta.
An expression of interest should be sent by 25th October 2024 at noon to kris.polidano@festivals.mt. When sending this email, kindly include:
Your Name & Surname;
CV
Portrait
The role/s you will be auditioning for
Any preferences within the time range of 10am-6pm (Please note that there is no guarantee that the slot given will be within the preferences indicated).
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