On the 24th and the 26th of October I conducted two performances of Verdi’s magnificent opera ‘Otello’ at the Astra Opera Theatre in Gozo, Malta.  The performances went down extreemly well by the two packed houses, who after both shows gave a rapturous appreciation to the performers. Without any doubt, leading Maltese soprano, Myriam Cauchi, in the part of Desdemona, stole the show, and she was highly lauded for her immpeccable singing.  Star singer, tenor Dadri Maisuradze, from the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow gave an excellent rendering of the difficult tenor part, while Italian baritone Alessandro Paliaga was a very creditable Iago both in his clear singing and his suave wickedness that underpins his sleazy role. Lesser part were also tackled proficiently by Franco de Grandis (Lodovico) and Olga Sliepnova (Emilia). Tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens(Cassio) carried out his important part with much aplomb and conviction. Local singers Kenneth Scicluna, Bernard Busuttil and Mario Portelli all gave a creditable interpretation to their assigned parts.  The massive choral interventions were brilliant highlights in the course of the opera. As usual the theatre choir was prepared and ably led by their Chorus Mistress, Dr Maria Frendo. I conducted all these elements with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in attendance.  I must also mention Joseph Cauchi’s and Donald Micallef’s fantastic set