MAVC Malta School of Music – Classical Voice Department, Presented ‘Opera at the Citadel’

On Thursday, 29th May 2025, the Malta School of Music at Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (MAVC) marked a memorable cultural celebration with the performance of Opera at the Citadel at the Citadel Cultural Centre in Gozo.

The event formed part of the commemorations marking the 50th Anniversary of Music Education at the Malta School of Music. The evening opened with a welcome address by Mr Victor Galea, Head of the MAVC College Network, who honoured the rich legacy of the institution and expressed heartfelt thanks to the Voice Department for their initiative, and to the Directorate for Cultural Heritage within the Ministry for Gozo for hosting the event in such a prestigious setting.

Audiences were treated to a vibrant programme of operatic scenes and arias performed by emerging vocalists from the School’s Opera Studio, supported by pianists Maria-Elena Farrugia and Sofia Narmania. The performance featured works from beloved composers such as Johann Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Bizet, Donizetti, Ponchielli, Arditi, and Handel.

The Opera Studio performers included Jonathan Mohnani, Joseph Cutajar, James Agius, Vanessa Magro, Mariah Costa, and Isaac Boldarini, under the artistic guidance of the Opera Studio team and teachers: Miriam Cauchi, Andriana Yordanova, and Graziella Debattista.

The evening concluded with a closing speech by Dr Jes Grixti, Head of the MAVC Malta School of Music, who praised the performers and the educators for their commitment to artistic excellence.

The event was warmly received by the public, who filled the venue in celebration of five decades of music education and a vibrant future for the operatic arts in Malta.