Corto Maltese is coming home!

It’s ship’s ahoy for graphic novel Corto Maltese, which tells the story of a sea captain born right here, in Valletta, and his daring adventures! The graphic novels – created by Italian comic book artist Hugo Pratt - have been delighting audiences around the world since 1967, and he's now docking in Teatru Manoel tomorrow and Saturday in an operatic adaptation of Corto Maltese: The Ballad of the Salty Sea! Reminiscent of the adventure stories of Robert Louis Stevenson (remember Treasure Island?), Pratt’s series has made its way around the world, delighting children and adults alike, but now finally lands on the island over the next few days. Here, we talk to the director Corina van Eijk about the opera, the legendary Valletta-born native and his lasting appeal. 

1. How did you get involved with Corto Maltese?

When I was a kid – around 10 or 11, I think – my brother used to read the comic book, Corto Maltese. It was very popular in Holland in those days (the beginning of the '70s) and my brother got it weekly, on subscription, while I got Donald Duck. But I was fonder of reading his comic book of Corto than the one I used to receive! Then, last year, I was on the island preparing for another opera – Aida – when Teatru Manoel asked me to direct this adaptation. 

2. What can the audience expect from this operatic adaptation?

The story is very rich, and we’ve used Hugo Pratt’s actual drawings within the opera itself, through video projections. The story is actually being told through the music, the direction and the drawings. It is a small orchestra – just 10 members – but very effectively composed and the opera is being performed by young and even unprofessional singers working with a few professionals. The experience of working with these young singers and the more experienced members of the team has given a different flavour to the production. And we’re working in one of the most beautiful theatres in the world – the front of house is beautiful! So, you can just sit back and relax!

3. What was the process of bringing Corto to the stage like and how have the rehearsals gone?

I jumped on board in November and, by that time, Tama (Matheson, the scriptwriter) and Monique (Krüs, the composer) had already been working on it closely. The first act was already half written and I ended up working with Tama to continue the process. I tried to bring the story closer to the comic book – to Hugo Pratt’s vision – so that it could be staged in the way I could imagine it. The story line in the graphic novels is thin but Corto, a rebel and a pirate, represents a refreshing political incorrectness, which we’ve tried to translate. The rehearsals have been very good. Sometimes there are hiccups since I run my own company back home and have a certain way of working, but it all gets resolved. 

4. What do you hope this adaptation of Corto Maltese will bring to the audience?

I really must say that I hope the openness of Corto Maltese can serve as an example. I wish all Maltese youngsters could be as open as he is and uphold freedom of speech. If there were more Corto Malteses in Malta, maybe the country would look different! I’m not a director who thinks theatre can change the world, though I do hope the audience and all the singers will have a lovely 75 minutes! So, if someone wants tickets, they just need to visit Teatru Manoel's site.