MAVC celebrates the 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 duet “Tu Vuoi ch’io Vivo o Cara” from the Opera Artaserse by late Maltese composer Giuseppe Arena (1707-1784); both characters are pleading, creating a melody as if by question and answer.

Born in Valletta in 1707, Arena began furthering his musical studies in Naples in 1724 at the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesu Cristo. The libretto of the Opera Artasersere was written by the famous 18th century librettist Pietro Metastasio (1698 1782).

In 1741 Arena wrote the three act opera Artaserse on the famous libretto by Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782), which deals with the Persian King and the son of Serse the first. This opera dwells on love, betrayal and antagonistic events. Most of the plot lines revolve around historic Kings, Emperors or heroes, such as the story of the Greek hero Achilles and the Persian King Artaxerxes.

The main objectives of such multi-disciplinary arts productions 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.