In pictures: Stars of the Royal Opera House

Up to the outbreak of World War II, the majestic Royal Opera House in Valletta remained the epicentre of cultural activity and of indoor entertainment, both for colonial servicemen and expats and for the locals.

The world-renowned quick-change artist Fregoli who performed at the Opera House twice. All images from the author’s collections

Impresarios staged opera, most­ly Italian, and theatre; professional and amateur drama com­panies had their home there, acrobats, magicians and conjurers, operetta, concerts, solo re­citals, congresses, national or charity fundraisers, lectures, tableaux vivants, comic shows, pageants, conferences – you name it.

Music claimed the lion’s share, particularly the annual opera season when the best singers and musicians Malta could afford made music at the Teatru Rjal, to hysterical applause or humiliating boos of unforgiving audiences.

Individual musicians promoted their careers by distributing autographed and dedicated postcard portraits to fans. Their refined elegance enriched the Maltese language – liebes bħat-tenur tal-opra. Often, local camera artists produced these photo portraits, replicated by the score, and those of opera singers exhibit their absolute mastery of portraiture. Chrétien ranks as my all-time virtuoso, closely followed by Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar and the Grand Studio.

Tenor Emmanuele Gelletta in a 1919 costume. Portrait by Chrétien.

Our Opera House had the distinction of launching the careers of celebrities: of some locals who debuted here, like Icilio Calleja and Giuseppe Satariano, and of foreign stars, like mezzo soprano Giulietta Simionato and tenor Giovanni Zenatello.

One positive collateral of Fascist interest in pre-war Malta remains the addressing of leading Italian composers to conduct at our Opera House. Distinguished names like Ottorino Respighi (three symphonic poems), Giuseppe Mulè (Largo) and Licinio Refice (Cecilia) whose works still appear regularly in serious modern musical repertoires, all visited and performed in Malta. My father, Vincenzo had the fortune of being designated as their personal chaperone throughout their visits to the island and retained vivid memories of their stay.

From left: Funerary postcard memento of the composer and conductor Antonio Nani, Cardenio Botti, controversial composer and director. Portrait dated 1922 and Giuseppe Mulè, renowned composer in Malta. Portrait by Chrétien.

Unidentified singer. Portrait by The Grand Studio and The soprano Laetizia Montecucchi in 1914. Portrait by Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar.

Opera House singer in costume. 1916 portrait and the bass singer Tancredi Pesaro in Malta in 1922. Portrait by Chrétien.