opera – Page 2 – Mark Bartolo

16/08/201801/10/2019

Spring to Summer

It’s been some time since I’ve posted here … have been kept quite busy this year! Soon after Don Giovanni, I sang with the A Cappella Choir in La Divina Commedia, where we sang two a cappella pieces; Eric Whitacre’s Lux Arumque and Ola Gjeilo’s O Magnum Mysterium. This was part of a concert directed by Michelle Castelletti and held at the Robert Samut Hall in Floriana.

In April I then joined the pit-singers for Mamma Mia!, an FM Theatre production. We were under the music direction of Kris Spiteri with the musical being held at the MCC in Valletta.

(1) La Divina Commedia (2) Mamma Mia! (3) Aħna Refuġjati (4) Musical Adventures in Seconda Prattica

Continue reading “Spring to Summer”

19/04/201812/05/2019

Don Giovanni

In the first week of March I was part of the chorus for the opera Don Giovanni, with music by Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. This is the second of a trilogy written by the latter two. Like last year, the opera was directed by Jack Furness, with Mro. Philip Walsh conducting the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Don Giovanni was held over four nights at the prestigious Manoel Theatre in Valletta. This was my fifth opera, with the last one being Patience, in which I interpreted the role of Major Murgatroyd.

01/01/201801/10/2019

The Year 2017

Another year has wrapped up … a busy year indeed! It all started with Le Nozze Di Figaro in March across four nights. I then sang in Beethoven’s 9th symphony together with the MPO chorus and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in May. A busy summer with rehearsals for Patience led to two performances of this operetta at the end of summer. In this production I interpreted the role of Major Murgatroyd.

In August I joined The Monteverdi Project, tutored by Mro. Marco Mencoboni, that led to A Christmas Concert with VIBE in December. In September I then sang together with Animae Gospel Choir in Cliff Zammit Stevens Annual Summer Concert ’17. Throughout the year I also sang in various celebrations with St. John’s Co-Cathedral resident choir, Coro Cathedralis.

08/10/201701/10/2019

Patience

A week has passed from the closing night of the operetta Patience. A summer of rehearsals culminated in a weekend of performances at the Salesian’s Theatre. This was my first role in an opera; that of Major Murgatroyd. With music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, this production was directed by Tama Matheson. The 9-piece orchestra was under the baton of Mro. Philip Walsh. Performed by TMYO & Guests, Patience was part of the Manoel Theatre’s Toi Toi Season 2017-2018.

13/08/201701/10/2019

Summer So Far

It’s been some time since I posted. After Le Nozze di Figaro was over, I started rehearsing for the next musical project, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. On the 9th May I was part of the Malta EU Presidency Choir, who together with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir we sang this beautiful symphony with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the beginning of July rehearsals for Patience commenced; an opera written by Gilbert & Sullivan. This will be my first opera role as General Murgatroyd! Vocal rehearsals progressed well, while staging rehearsals will commence after a short summer break. Patience performances will be at the Salesian Theatre on the 30th September and 1st October.

I have just attended the first 3 master classes with the renowned Marco Mencoboni, a harpsichord & organ player and conductor specialising in Baroque music, as part of The Monteverdi Project. These monthly master classes will lead to a concert on the 21st December.