<i>La Bohème</i> for Opera on Water at Portomaso marina
This summer's first Opera on Water at Portomaso is expected to become an annual event and be promoted abroad to attract upmarket visitors, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said. Speaking at yesterday's official launch of the Opera on Water, Dr...
This summer's first Opera on Water at Portomaso is expected to become an annual event and be promoted abroad to attract upmarket visitors, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said.
Speaking at yesterday's official launch of the Opera on Water, Dr Zammit Dimech said the event will next year also be included in the ministry's calendar of events.
There are high expectations for the non-profit activity, organised by Lisa Borain of Launches, Simon Gatt, Resorts Malta; together with Richard Cleland and Jean Galea Souchet of Cleland & Souchet.
The organisers will be bringing over the London City Opera, under the direction of Martin McEvoy, to present Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème on water at the Portomaso marina on July 30. The London City Opera has an extensive repertoire. It has played for the likes of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former US first couple George and Barbara Bush and European royal families, among others.
La Bohème has been chosen for the local event due to its worldwide popularity and because it is a lighthearted and easy performance to watch.
This will not be the typical night at the opera since the Opera on Water is combining culture with wining and dining, offering patrons the chance to choose from gala dinner seats to cocktail marina tickets with prices ranging from Lm27.50 to Lm58.
Speaking at a press conference Ms Borain said one of the biggest obstacles they faced was setting up the actual stage since July was a very busy time for the marina and "moving yachts left, right and centre was not an option".
The team had to come up with a secure solution to create a floating stage and it was finally decided to support the 30 by 10 metre-barge on 12 concrete columns standing two metres high in the water.
Divers will then have to place the columns correctly so that the barge can be brought in and filled with 500 tons of fresh water to sink onto the concrete blocks - all this has to be done three days before the actual event.
Ms Borain said that next year's event will be on a much larger scale and Maltese musicians will play a large part in the activity.
Dr Zammit Dimech said: "The Opera on Water is the latest addition to this chain of attractions for this summer season. I am sure that events of this calibre will enhance Malta's image as an up-market destination," he said.
All tickets are available from Cleland & Souchet in Portomaso, St Julian's, while the marina seating tickets are also available from all five-star hotels.