#Newsroom: Malta Opera Launches With Spectacular Gala Concert & Opportunities For Local Talent

May 12, 2022, Valletta, Malta “Opera has always held a special place in our hearts, our culture and society. And although today it competes with popular musical genres and entertainment, our love for opera has certainly not dimmed. In our case, it gave birth to a dream – Malta Opera”, said Nicola Said Soprano, Founder and Artistic Director of the newly launched collaborative opera initiative.

Malta Opera launched with a Gala Concert on Thursday May 5 2022 at the Casino Maltese, Valletta.

With a rich and diverse programme organised by Nicola Said and featuring fifteen established Maltese opera singers who were joined by young and emerging singers, the ballroom was packed with VIP guests, friends and families. Established performers (in alphabetical order) included: Francesca Aquilina, Albert Buttigieg, Louis Andrew Cassar, Graziella Debattista, Clare Ghigo, Joseph Lia, Nicola Said, Ken Scicluna, Cliff Zammit Stevens, Nadia Vella, Charles Vincenti and Gillian Zammit. Emerging singers (also in alphabetical order) participating were Michaela Agius, Mariette Borg, Mariah Costa, Maria Grazia Grech, Madeleine Gruppetta, Gabrielle Portelli and Nicole Vassallo. The pianist was Maria-Elena Farrugia. Compère for the evening was Joseph Chetcuti, while Albert George Storace prepared the programme notes. The programme covered a broad repertoire of music by well-loved international composers Handel, Mozart, Léhar, Donizetti, Gounod, Gilbert and Sullivan, Bernstein, Verdi, Puccini, Sorozábal and Maltese composer Camilleri.

Malta Opera is a unique concept for the Maltese Islands. It is a professional collaborative opera initiative bringing together Maltese singers, experienced and professional management, artistic production, and internationally-renowned conductors with long standing connections with Malta. Shortly before the launch, Malta Opera held a Masterclass at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta – “The German System: What’s Your Fach?” – during which eight local talented singers shone for three days under the coaching of international masters, Conductor Ben Woodward and Director Detlef Sölter.

As Nicola explained, “We believe that investing in the future of opera is the key to giving opportunities to those singers who study and perform both locally and internationally. We also believe that it is important to promote the work as a multidisciplinary platform and develop a community of supporters.” It is a well-known fact that the Maltese have a deeply-rooted infatuation with opera culture. From global superstars like Oreste Kirkop and Joseph Calleja, to internationally acclaimed singers such as Miriam Gauci, Lydia Caruana and Antoinette Miggiani, they bring out the best of local talent and the Maltese communities. Today in Malta there is a completely renewed cohort of talented opera singers following important international professional opera careers. In addition, there are many other great and promising Maltese voices among opera students studying at home and abroad.

Unfortunately, such talent is not always adequately appreciated due to the lack of local opportunities. Young singers leave Malta to pursue their dreams abroad, with little hope of returning to pursue a full-time artistic career. They do however shine in highly acclaimed productions overseas productions. This is the gap that Malta Opera has set out to fill. It is the stage for society and local Maltese communities to appreciate the enduring and beautiful aspects of the opera’s art form through local talent.

Nicola adds, “Our dream is to grow the company and have world-class opera productions that bring together Maltese talent from all over the world. We are also planning to develop exchanges with international opera singers, productions and companies. Whether it is education through masterclasses, exploring of innovative ways to bring work to life through emerging technology and media, or opportunities for through multidisciplinary concerts and opera scene productions, we want opera to be the beating heart of our communities.”

Present for the launch were various personalities from culture, politics and industry, including the Hon. Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and the Local Government, H.E. Dr Fabrizio Romano, Ambassador of the Italian Republic in Malta, representatives from the German and Spanish embassies, Mr Alfred Camilleri, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Finance and Employment and Ms Lydia Caruana, Soprano.

Malta Opera could not have come to life without the sponsorship and support of the travel partners AirMalta, Arts Council Malta, the Janatha Stubbs Foundation, RISC Institute, Malta International Airport and APS Bank, as well as the support of the Malta Society of Arts, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Casino Maltese, together with Market Accents and Culture Ventures, advisors, Paul Nailor, volunteers and friends.

Malta Opera will be releasing details of its future programme and activities on the website (www.maltaopera.com) and social media. It is also available for cultural activities, corporate events and commissioned productions. For more information, please email hello@maltaopera.com.

#MaltaOpera #PureEmotion #YouMakeIthappen

Ends

Malta Opera Founder and Artistic Director, Soprano Nicola Said with Gala Concert Compère Joseph Chetcuti.

Malta Opera Founder and Artistic Director Nicola Said, Soprano with Louis Andrew Cassar, Baritone in a duet during the Malta Opera Gala Concert

Soprano Nadia Vella and Tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens in a duet during the Malta Opera Gala Concert

Singing Libiamo – the grand finale during the Malta Opera Launch Gala Concert at the Casino Maltese, Valletta.

Notes to Editors:

Malta Opera is a professional collaborative opera initiative bringing together Maltese singers, experienced and professional management, artistic production, and an internationally-renowned conductor with long standing connections with Malta.

It is the stage for Malta Opera to provide Maltese society and communities with the enduring and beautiful aspects of the opera art form featuring and promoting home-grown talent.

Malta Opera is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and was founded in 2021. It has launched a programme of activities during 2022 that includes a Masterclass and a Gala Concert. For further information please visit www.maltaopera.com

For interviews, photos and film, please email hello@maltaopera.com.

#Newsroom: Savvitas Natwest: Launch of the UK Economic Blueprint for Women White Paper

Created with the input of 400 business women from across the UK.

The White Paper from Savvitas NatWest makes practical and achievable recommendations for Government and for private and third sector organisations, with ideas gained from women businessowners during a national Economic Blueprint (EB) Roadshow supported by NatWest.

Savvitas celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week #GEW2020 with the publication of this groundbreaking White Paper from Savvitas NatWest ‘Leveraging Opportunity for UK Female Entrepreneurship.’

The launch took place online on Wednesday 18th November 2020, the Diversity & Inclusion day of Global Entrepreneurship Week, with entrepreneurs and women business owners from throughout the UK, along with parliamentarians, business professionals and academics.

Speakers and participants included:
The Earl of Erroll, Cross Bench Peer & Technology Entrepreneur; Craig Tracey MP, Chairman The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women & Enterprise; Helene Martin Gee, Savvitas Founder & CEO, Entrepreneur, Investor and Parliamentary Adviser; Jill Pay, Chairman Pink Shoe Senate, Former Sergeant at Arms UK Parliament; Brenda King MBE, CEO ACDiversity, previously European Economic & Social Committee; Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise and Community Finance at NatWest Group; Yvonne Greeves, Director of Women in Business NatWest Group; and Sue Lawton MBE, Global expert on Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN High Level Panel.

There is growing body of evidence that the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on women, including recent research from the IMF and the World Bank, the so-called ‘pink recession’. It’s vital that every step is taken to encourage and support the UK’s women business owners.

Delegates joined informal discussions and knowledge-sharing to promote the recommendations and encourage the growth of women’s enterprise.

The UK Economic Blueprint for Women White Paper (EB White Paper) is helping to create the conditions for women-owned/led businesses to gain a fairer share of business opportunities and contracts nationally, with a focus on helping women to scale up their businesses.

Access the Executive Summary and full White Paper here: www.savvitas.com/economic-blueprint

COMMENTS

Craig Tracey MP said: “As chairman of the Women and Enterprise All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPGWE) and an active MP in my North Warwickshire constituency, I recognise the vital contribution that women business owners make to the economy and their communities. More progress to improve opportunity for women’s enterprise offers huge potential for the nation’s future prosperity. I welcome this White Paper, which builds on the work of the Rose Review and the APPGWE Report ‘The Future of Female Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Progress’ we published in 2019.”

The Earl of Erroll said: “The Savvitas NatWest White Paper comes directly from British women business owners. Its recommendations create an opportunity for Parliamentarians of all parties to understand what female founders need. I am especially keen on the proposal to embed entrepreneurial education into the curriculum at all stages.”

Helene Martin Gee, Founder of the initiative said: “Despite current challenges we’re seeing a growth in female enterprise and wider recognition of our valuable contribution to the economy. As Savvitas collaborates with its partners to continue to promote and support female enterprise, I hope the recommendations in this White Paper, gathered directly from UK business women, will stimulate progress throughout the whole country.”

With thanks to NatWest for their support of the National Roadshow that enabled Savvitas (formerly Pink Shoe Club) to gather ideas for this White Paper from 400 local women business-owners at events in Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London and online.

Savvitas is proud to be the delivery partner. With its team of 100 volunteers, Team EB, it is using advocacy and influence to seek policy and economic solutions to improve opportunities for women-led businesses.

Savvitas, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA UK.

www.savvitas.com

Contacts:
Lyndon Gee: lyndongee@btinternet.com
Noreen Cesareo: communications@marketaccents.com

SAVVITAS

Established following thirteen years of the Pink Shoe business women’s network. Savvitas enjoys an international presence and carries out vital work in women’s leadership and entrepreneurship.

With the burgeoning new normal, we’re seeing a revolution in the world of work. Savvitas and Pink Shoe are poised to support and encourage this new age of leadership and enterprise.

The inspiring Pink Shoe ambassadors and members remain at the heart of all we do while the Pink Shoe philosophy of Recognition; Development; Ethics and Inclusion is at the centre of the new brand Savvitas. Please visit www.savvitas.com and www.pinkshoeclub.com for more information.

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