MAVC presents the Overture to the Opera ‘Achille in Schiro’ by late Maltese Composer Giuseppe Arena (1707-1784)

On the 27th May 2023, Mikiel Anton Vassalli College presented the project Ġawhar Misjub, literally meaning Discovered Gems, which focuses on the operatic music of late Maltese composers. This live performance shows the Overture to the Opera Achille in Schiro (1738), written by the late Maltese composer Giuseppe Arena (1707 – 1784).

Giuseppe Arena was born in Valletta in 1707. Around 1724 he began furthering his musical studies in Naples at the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesu Cristo. Arena’s musical talent was immediately recognised and became the assistant of a major Italian composer pf the time Francesco Durante. Achille in Sciro is Arena’s first opera written in 1738. This is a celebration of Giuseppe Arena’s epitome of the Neapolitan Baroque style of writing.

The main objectives of such multi-disciplinary arts performance produced by Mikiel Anton Vassalli college, is to serve as an artistic educational environment where students of the visual and performing arts can take part in the actual live productions alongside professionals in the sector – thus bridging the studies/education with the performing arts industry.

An orchestra was set up for this event called Gawhar Misjub Orchestra – with the participation of students: Martha Spiteri, Samuel Darmanin, Maximilian Schembri, Bernard Curmi, Luke Paul Attard and Savio Galea.

MAVC Students Lior Immanuel Schembri, Michela Caruana, Zichen Peng, Fiorella Coleiro, Michela Ciappara, Ylenia Vassallo, Giles Rooney, Eliza Mintoff, Mariah Costa, Martina Mintoff, Kimberly Grech, Madeleine Gruppetta, Maria Grazia Grech, Andrea Stegani, Martin Bezzina Wettinger, Ken Tabone and Serah Marie Calleja performed as actors while students Thea De Gray, Jodie Grech, Francesca Gauci Grech joined as dancers.