Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1094338
14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 MARCH 2019 CULĊTURE CULTURE THE Leone Philharmonic Society is pleased to announce that the Leone Band is now the first and only Maltese band whose music was published on Spotify. Spotify is a digital music plat- form used by millions of people everyday from all over the world. The first publication that has been selected is the funeral march collection by Maestro Giovanni Giumarra titled 'Dolore'. Since 1863, the Leone Band un- dertook composed some of the most prestigious musical compo- sitions. Over the ages, they were record- ed on cassettes and CDs as means to immortalize them. This latest development not only immor- talises the Leone Band's musical compositions but also increases the prestige of Gozo's first estab- lished Band in today's dynamic Society. 12 years ago, the Leone Band was the first band to have delved in pop culture, today producing one of the largest events by traditional bands - the Leone Goes Pop. This is another first by the Leone Band to push forward the culture of Maltese traditional bands. The Society continues to do its utmost to move forward with changes in culture and technology so that the Leone Band continues to pioneer and continues to be relevant in the context of cultural and artistic changes. The Leone Band A.D. 1863 becomes the first traditional band in Malta on Spotify MANON Lescaut is the oper- atic production for this year's Gaulitana: A Festival of Music. Puccini's masterpiece, presented following an absence of over 20 years from the local stage, prom- ises to be a spectacular night for opera buffs. Miriam Gauci – Malta's "Donna non Vidi Mai" – features in the title-role, following on her "tri- umphant and touching" Madama Butterfly in 2017. Des Grieux shall be interpreted by acclaimed Puccini singer Enrique Ferrer - renowned for his dramatic pow- er, personality & musicality. The tenor boasts an impressive career performing in prestigious opera houses including La Fenice, Are- na di Verona, Torre del Lago and Carnegie Hall. Lucio Gallo returns to Malta to perform Lescaut following his "first-rate" and "unforgetta- ble Scarpia" for Tosca at Teatru tal-Opra Aurora last October whereas Geronte shall be sung by Luciano Leoni. The cast shall be complemented by Didier Pieri (Edmondo, Dance Master, Lamplighter), Joseph Lia (Inn- keeper, Naval Captain), Ken Scicluna (Sergeant) and Clare Ghigo (Singer). The production will be direct- ed by Enrico Castiglione seeks to portray a contemporary ap- proach to Prevost's classic where life and love are a game dur- ing which winners and losers abound. As such, the director's set designs take cue from the card-playing scenes in the op- era's plot. The surtitled production will be conducted by Colin Attard, featuring the Gaulitanus Choir and the Malta Philharmonic Or- chestra. Gaulitana is supported by the Gozo Cultural Support Pro- gramme of Arts Council Malta in collaboration with the Min- istry for Gozo and partnered by APS Bank. Manon Lescaut, part of the OP- ERA+ Weekend, will be held on April 6, 2019. Booking is open, directly online on www.teatru- aurora.com or via ticket helpline 79045779. Miriam Gauci stars in Manon Lescaut Leone Goes Pop 2018 AFTER the podium at the 69th Sanremo Music Fes- tival and the success of the new album "Musica", Il Volo is preparing for a se- ries of live events that dem- onstrate the success world- wide of the three singers in these 10 years. On 19 July, Il Volo will be at the Malta Fairs and Con- ventions Center in Malta. Il Volo's 'Il nuovo album (The new album) confirms the worldwide success of the trio making iTunes' Top 10 charts for best-sell- ing albums in 14 location, from Malta to Brazil, from Finland to Israel. With 11 tracks and the production of Michele Canova, the latest album highlights the voices of Piero Barone, Ignazio Bos- chetto and Gianluca Gino- ble, collecting their tastes and their musical influenc- es in a CD that represents 10 years of a long friend- ship and making music to- gether. In addition to the song "Musica che resta", it con- tains two unpublished works, "Fino a quando fa bene" and "Vicinissimo", as well as the covers of "Ar- rivederci Roma", "A chi mi dice", "People", "La nave del olvido", "Lontano da- gli occhi", "Be My Love", "La voce del silenzio" and "Meravigliosa Creatura". Celebrations for the 10 years of Il Volo continue with unmissable concerts around the world, start- ing in May 2019 with live shows in Japan, where al- ready in 2017 the trio had sold out in Tokyo and in Kawasaki. In May, Il Volo will be in Italy for two exclusive dates in Matera. In summer the three artists will then per- form in some of the most beautiful Italian locations, a tour that will end with a show in Verona. In Autumn Il Volo will be in concert major cities in Europe and Latin America. The celebrations of this most famous Italian trio in the world will continue until May 2020, with a tour in the United States and Canada. 'Il Volo' live in Malta Il Volo: (left to right) Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto Miriam Gauci