This weekend saw the opening of the Gozitan opera season with the Aurora opera house’s production of Puccini’s La bohème, and the first reactions are mind blowing! 

In a public Facebook post, operatic soprano Nino Machaidze admits that a warm audience reception is common at her performances, however Saturday was “something incredibly big and special”. “The reaction of the audience at my exit for the final curtain call tonight was just unbelievable!” she wrote. “Rain of colourful gorgeous flowers falling on my head, total standing ovation with huge applause and me super happy and moved”, Nino gushes while stating that this acted as proof that the entire team behind the production put to life a magical evening.

The opera was conducted by Mro Colin Attard, with Vivien Hewitt appointed as stage director and set designer and local fashion designer Luke Azzopardi heading the costume department - who was sadly unable to finish off the final details of his work himself due to an immediate family member falling ill while abroad.

While it is still early to receive critics’ feedback, Secretary of the Society Thomas Bajada acknowledges that the reception seems to have been a positive one.

“Opera at the Aurora Opera House is powered by over a hundred volunteers who fork in their energy and dedication, which mix in a healthy and unique manner with the quality of international professional artists, to create a special opera production,” Thomas explains. “In fact, international singers coming straight from La Scala, Metropolitan Opera House and Covent Garden leave the Aurora with very positive remarks about the unique nature of opera at Aurora, as is the case with Nino Machaidze”.

The Society this year ensured that La Bohème would be an opera of young people, of inspired youths with world-class artists, together with fresh faces. Looking onwards, preparations are already underway for the next production, Aida, scheduled for October 2020.

 Have you ever been to the opera?