Students of any age may benefit from a heavily special discounted tickets offered by the Teatru Astra of Gozo for the upcoming opera production Turandot.

The Teatru Astra is launching this scheme in a bid to enable students to start familiarizing themselves with opera and to enjoy the marvelous experience of this beautiful art form. Through the introduction of this edutainment programme the Teatru Astra wants to help foster a new generation of young opera lovers.

200 tickets on a first-come first-served basis are available to students following any course in Malta or Gozo for the first night of the opera production on Thursday 23 October. The tickets have been heavily reduced from the original price of €40 to €10 per student, with any other accompanying adult also benefitting from a 25% discount at the price of €30.

Booking may be done on 21550985 or online at bookings@mediterranea.com.mt.

The Teatru Astra opera production Turandot sees an international cast of high repute including Italian soprano Francesca Patanè in the title role. The cast also includes Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi as Liù and Italian tenor Antonino Interisano as Calàf. Ping, Pong and Pang will be sung by Marco Chingari, Giovanni Maini and Davide Malandra respectively, while Franco de Grandis sings the role of Timur. Kevin Caruana is the Mandarino whilst Mario Portelli is Emperor Altoum.

Turandot also involves the Teatru Astra Opera Chorus under the direction of resident chorus mistress Maria Frendo. Music director Prof. Mro. Joseph Vella will direct the National Philharmonic Orchestra while Italian stage director Mario Corradi is once again being entrusted with this production.

The opera production forms part of the seventh edition of Festival Mediterranea. A full list of events is available online at www.mediterranea.com.mt.