Miriam Gauci Vocal Master Class Vocal Master Class 2020

The 14th edition of Gaulitana: A Festival of Music will include a series of masterclasses with Maltese internationally renowned soprano Miriam Gauci during Holy Week between the 8th and the 11th April, 2020.

Open to all singers, morning and afternoon sessions will be held on the first three days, with a concluding public lunchtime concert on the final day.

A repetiteur shall be in residence.

A participation certificate is handed to all participants.

Fee: Active participation - €115 | Passive participation - €25

An application form can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

Applications should be sent together with a CV and a €10 application fee (applicable only to active participation) by the 21st February, and the chosen participants will be notified by the end of February.

“Gaulitana and Gozo absolutely deserve a visit” (OperaClick portal, ) Schedule

Wednesday, 8th April 8.45hrs-16.00hrs - Middle School, Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo

Thursday, 9th April 9.00hrs-16.00hrs - Middle School, Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo

Friday, 10th April 9.00-14.00hrs - Ministry for Gozo Hall, St. Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo

Saturday, 11th April 9.45-12.30hrs - Ministry for Gozo Hall, St. Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo 9.45-11.00hrs – Run-through | 11.30-12.30 – Public Concert

More info on: [email protected] www.gaulitanus.com/gaulitana-festival

Assistance regarding accommodation can be offered upon request. About Gaulitana: A Festival of Music

“A major festival of classical music” (Musical Opinion, UK magazine)

“Gozo's main classical music festival” (The Sunday Times of Malta)

Gaulitana: A Festival of Music is an annual springtime international festival, now established as a major artistic endeavour in Malta. Organized by the Gaulitanus Choir, the festival’s raison d’etre is to create a platform seeking to enrich Gozo’s cultural output in the leaner months of the year. Yearning to contribute towards transforming Gozo into an island of creativity, it runs for around a month and is held in various localities, with the chosen venues varying from opera houses and heritage sites to open-air locations and pub lounges.

The festival includes an eclectic mix of musical events in multifarious styles: whether operatic or symphonic, chamber or sacred, vocal or instrumental, evening or lunchtime, and classical or semi-classical, formal or informal. The multi-dimensionality of Gaulitana extends to non-musical artistic disciplines: live painting, art and literature. A holistic and intensive educational programme devised in collaboration with Education authorities, GAULearn, runs in parallel alongside the festival, which reaches a climax with its concluding OPERA+ Weekend, a cultural bonanza of quality events intrinsically linked with an operatic production.

A recipient of the Gozo Cultural Support Programme (issued by Arts Council Malta and the Ministry for Gozo) and the EFFE label, it prides itself with several collaborations with local and foreign institutions and government agencies. In its relatively short history of just over a decade, it has developed substantially and has been playing a key role in putting the small island of Gozo on the international cultural map. Vocal Coach | Miriam Gauci

Malta-born Miriam Gauci started her vocal education with her aunt, soprano Hilda Tabone. Following a scholarship she studied in obtaining diplomas from the Conservatorio and from the Centro di Perfezionamento Artisti Lirici of the Teatro alla Scala, becoming the first Maltese to do so. She studied voice with Lia Guarini and Giulietta Simionato as well as staging techniques with Marisa Flask, Renato Zanella and Vladimir Delman, winning various international competitions.

After her stage debut in 1984, a big international career ensued, with appearances in the most important theatres worldwide, whether Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, New York’s Metropolitan, Vienna’s Staatsoper, Paris’s Opéra de Bastille, and Barcelona’s Teatro del Liceu, to name just a few. She worked with numerous major conductors like Claudio Abbado, Gerd Albrecht, James Conlon, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta, , Georges Prêtre, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Silvio Varviso and Marcello Viotti, and with famous stage directors like Franco Zeffirelli , Harry Kupfer and Robert Wilson, as well as stage-partnered the likes of Roberto Alagna, Jaime Aragall, Francisco Araiza, Placido Domingo, Peter Dvorský, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Samuel Ramey, Giuseppe Sabbatini and Neil Shicoff. She also performs regularly with her husband Michael Laus.

She participated in various operatic DVD-recordings and her CD-recording of complete operas include several major titles. Other recordings include an album of Italian arias, Beethoven's Egmont and Symphony No.9, Brahms’ Deutsche Requiem, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater and Te Deum, Verdi's Messa da Requiem and duets with Ramon Vargas for RCA. Gauci also participated in Giorgio Strehler’s famous production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at La Scala, broadcasted live on RAI 3.

Miriam Gauci is a member of the Order of Merit of Malta, and a Cavaliere of the Italian Republic. Message from the Artistic Director

Gaulitana: A Festival of Music is renowned for its gradual yet quick growth and expansion throughout the past thirteen editions. Surely, one of our biggest successes was getting Malta’s international diva Miriam Gauci on board. She has been our festival’s honorary patron since, we had lured her back to the operatic stage, and she been delivering a vocal master class on an annual basis. Indeed, the latter has become a constant in the festival’s GAULearn educational programme.

Securing a master class by Ms Gauci was unprecedented in our country and, so far, a Miriam Gauci master class has been exclusive to Gaulitana. As is to be expected, the response was very encouraging, also spreading to foreign budding lyric singers. Of course, Gauci’s persona and her impressive career were guarantees in themselves. However, her enthusiasm, her maternal way of going about the master class, her tackling of each participant according to his or her potential, and her ability to ingrain a very visible and bubbly group spirit into the master could only be appreciated through being present at the classes. The positive ripple effects were obvious.

Hence, we have developed the Miriam Gauci vocal master class year-in-year-out, building on what we had previously achieved while also giving due consideration to the reactions and suggestions received from the various participants. This ensures an ever more successful venture.

We look forward to having you with us again this year … and this time round you can also enjoy the Maltese Holy Week traditions! Message from Miriam Gauci

For the last years it has been my pleasure to be invited to give master classes as part of Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, the annual festival held in Gozo of which I am also an honorary patron.

Throughout these years, I have enthusiastically looked at the master class as an opportunity to share my experience in the international lyric field to up-and-coming singers. Budding singers must be made aware of the need to embrace the correct vocal techniques, as well as of the tough sacrifices a singer’s life entails. Accepting this, working very hard, as well as being offered the right opportunities, are crucial to aspire for a successful career.

While vocal talent abounds in Malta, and in Gozo, one of the exciting features of the master class is the mingling of local singers with others who come specifically from abroad to participate in the master class. This has surely created a quite particular atmosphere which we try to translate into a more ‘homely’ one over the few days during which we work very intensely together. The aura, spirit and passion I have found were second to none.

This has been complimented by the availability and professionalism of the repetiteurs, the hard work of the organisers, the very cosy ambience of the venues in which we are hosted, and, not least, the warmth and beauty of Gozo itself. All contributed to the success of my master classes at Gaulitana.

Alla prossima! What past participants had to say LUCY FARRIMOND – MEZZO SOPRANO, UNITED KINGDOM What did I enjoy about the trip? - I adored learning from such a distinguished artist as Miriam Gauci. Throughout my time in Malta, Ms Gauci was a constant support and her kindness and lovely personality was wonderful to be around. - I have made many wonderful friends of varied nationalities. I am so grateful to have met these people and I know for certain that we will remain lifelong friends!

- It is safe to say that I have fallen in love with the little island of Gozo. Not only is it a place of extreme beauty; with impressive architecture a representation of its deep cultural history, it has an irresistible charm and warm atmosphere generated by the wonderful Gozitans that live there.

Did the course meet my expectations? The course most definitely exceeded my expectations, and beyond! Not only have I grown as a musician, but also as a person. The decision to travel to a country unknown to me and to perform for people I had never met before was extremely daunting, however the whole experience was an extreme confidence boost and one of the best times of my life! What past participants had to say LAURA PETITE – SOPRANO, BELGIUM It has been an honour and a joy for me to come to Gozo for the Gaulitana Festival and the master classes of Ms Gauci. Gauci’s lessons are of the highest level, both vocally and artistically. Her years of experience and her work on the world’s greatest stages with the best conductors are very conspicuous throughout the classes. Above all, she is such a kind and loving person, giving it all to help students according to their abilities. I have learned so much from her. Besides, the experience at the festival has been fantastic, with everyone at Gaulitana so passionate about classical music. I look forward to being back, and, also, to keep discovering the beautiful country that Malta is.

GRAZIELLA DEBATTISTA – MEZZO SOPRANO, MALTA

Gaulitana has always given importance not only to bring high level of performances to the Maltese Islands but also to nurture young singers and help them to evolve into better artists. A case in point is the master class with Miriam Gauci – which is more valuable than gold itself. Ms Gauci is the ultimate teacher and performer and has the experience and sweetness to bring out the best in every young singer. A sequel to my participation in the master class was the amazing opportunity to represent Malta in the Europa Season’s Music Colloquium Series for students held at Craoiva, Romania. To become a performer, one needs the tools and the experience; the Gaulitana master class provided both, in the best scenarios possible

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