Full-scale opera in Gozo knows its origin to the zealous committee of the Leone Philharmonic Society (A.D. 1863) who in 1971, together with many volunteers, undertook the heavy task of building the Aurora Opera House. It was officially inaugurated on October 9th, 1976 inheriting its name from a former Aurora Theatre (also owned by the Leone Philharmonic Society) which served as the only theatre ow
ned by a philharmonic society on the island at that time. It prides itself on having the largest indoor seating capacity of 1,600 and stage, a spacious orchestra pit and flawless acoustics. Elegantly adorned by the renowned Maltese artist Emvin Cremona, the Aurora theatre is truly an artistic gem, priding a set of 60 original hand-painted works by the world-famous artist, which complement his intricate ceiling design, evoking the idiosyncratic Gozitan lace in a typical 1970’s artistic language. With three levels of boxed tiers all round the auditorium and an upper viewing gallery, it is the only recent theatre on the islands, with specific architectural requirements to host operas. The Leone Committee's aim culminated in January 1977, just three months after the official opening, when Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly was staged. It was the very first opera ever performed in Gozo and it was set to transform culture-oriented activities on the Maltese Islands. In particular it had the effect of reviving opera in Malta, which, until then, had been lying dormant for decades. This was followed by a string of other highly successful opera productions staged under the baton of various renowned conductors such as the Italians Alberto Leone and Giovanni Veneri, Maltese conductor Joseph Sammut and Gozitans Joseph Vella and Colin Attard, the current resident conductor of the theatre. Worth a mention are Eva Marton, Raina Kabaivanska, Michéle Crider and Maria Guleghina (sopranos), Gloria Scalchi, Sylvie Brunet, Katia Angeloni and Tea Demurishvili (mezzo-soprano), Nicola Martinucci, Franco Farina and Neil Shicoff (tenors), Franco Giovane, Marzio Giossi, Luigi de Corato and Juan Pons, (baritones) as well as Mario Luperi Ivan Tomasev, and Martin Gurbal, (basses). During the first two decades, the theatre also showed films on a regular basis while to date, it still provides Gozitans with theatrical events, variety shows and other forms of entertainment. Amongst these it is worth to mention the Ballet de Paris, which marked the first professional ballet company on a Gozitan stage. Today the Aurora Opera House has become Gozo’s top venue for high level theatrical performances brought over from Malta for the benefit of entertaining the Gozitan population. Apart from that, it has also evolved into a production house of its own repute, producing the annual opera, alongside symphonic concerts, an annual Christmas variety and numerous dance shows. It also hosts a number of foreign productions and serves as a permanent house of dance schools tallying its artistic footprint to include classical ballet, traditional flamenco, jazz and contemporary dance and theatre education. At forty five years of age, the theatre is continuously striving to keep itself updated not only on artistic and managerial levels but also as far as infrastructure is concerned. Constant restoration is employed to prevent the threats of deterioration and also to preserve the theatre’s prestigious decorations and artistic features. In addition, the theatre also holds dear its environmental and social missions. These include, the organisation of events with a philanthropic cause, the annual participation in the Earth Hour (a lights-out annual initiative in favour of the global-warming awareness) and eco-friendly major infrastructural works such as the complete replacement of the theatre roof, thanks to funds obtained from the Ministry for Gozo Eco-Gozo Fund, and the EU-part-sponsored installation of clean energy-generating photovoltaic cells on the theatre’s roof. As an archetype of local theatre entertainment and opera production house, the theatre enjoys the regular support of the state, as well as distinguished patrons whose help alleviates the financial costs involved in maintaining a theatre of this kind. What is truly a wonder is that the Aurora Opera House is run by volunteers who dedicate their time and resources for the love of art and the performing arts in particular, a large number of volunteers who strive hard to attain professional results.
