Aria ‘She was Once so Demure” from the Opera ‘The Orphan of Geneve’, by Maltese born composer Francesco Schira (1809 -1883)

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 Aria ‘She was Once so Demure’ from the opera ‘The Orphan of Geneve’ – by late Maltese born composer Francesco Schira (1809 -1883).

Francesco Schira was born in Valletta in 1809 to a musical family and he was the youngest of four brothers. Schira was enrolled at the Milan Conservatory at the tender age of 9 years. He was a well known teacher for voice performance at the Royal Academy of Music and a resident conductor of London’s Drury Lane Theatre and Lisbon’s National Theatre San Carlo. Apart from being a prominent voice performance teacher, he was also known for his operatic works. His most famous to date are the Ear Ring, Lia and La Selvaggia.

One of his successful romantic operas is ‘The Orphan of Geneve’ here interpreted by Tenor Angelo Muscat. The opera deals about Thérèse’s unknown past and the jealousy of lovers. The character of Levine sings an aria taken from the same opera ‘She was Once so Demure’ is written in a romantic style, and quite in an Italianate way.

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.