TEATRU TAL-OPRA AURORA,
VICTORIA, GOZO, MALTA
Gloria all'Egitto they say! Aida's triumph scene can be seen as one of the most successful and celebrated culture-branding exercises ever, making Egyptology even more fashionable, palatable and relatable in popular culture. Here's how Franco Zeffirelli reimagined it in his 2001 Busseto version, retaken at the Teatru tal-Opra Aurora in Gozo, on Saturday 15th October. Moveo Dance company earned their merited applauses. Raul Ivaldi brought the artists in the role with make-up, hair and wigs. Debbie Portelli and Sarah Camilleri saw to the throngs of chorus members and auxiliaries. Additional costumes designed by Vivien Hewitt, produced by the Teatru tal-Opra Aurora Wardrobe, under the direction of Celine Debrincat (wardrobe mistress), Marlene Portelli (premiere seamstress), Sunta Azzopardi, Lora Galea and the rest of the sartorial team.

In a theatre whose foundations lay on volunteer activism and public inscription, it is never clear what actually takes place during the curtain call – whether the audience applauds the production or the production thanks its audience. At the Teatru tal-Opra Aurora there’s a fine line that makes both things happen simultaneously.

Here’s how David Agius Hush Studios captured the spirit of Aida’s curtain call… trumpets and all included!

Photos by David Agius, Hush Studios

The production team, chorus and other ensembles.

The principal artistes.

And the audience leaps on its feet as the trumpets sound the most famous opera march!