The ORPHEUM THEATRE in Gzira
Designed in 1932, the ORPHEUM THEATRE was originally a cinema as well as a theatre. Dramatic and operatic performances were put up featuring some of the most famous figures of the time. Following the bombing of the Royal Opera House in WW2, this theatre gained importance.
On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November 1949 there were two evenings of Recitals with the Orchestra Valente opening each half of the programme. On these memorable evenings TITO GOBBI's name was given prominence. He sang Handel's 'Lascia ch'io pianga' from Rinaldo, Mozart's 'Non piu andrai' from Nozze di Figaro, Rossini's 'Largo al Factotum' from Il Barbiere, as well as Tchaikovsky, Tosti, Verdi and Giordano. However, on the same evenings, the Maltese tenor ORESTE KIRKOP was also singing Verdi's 'La donna e mobile' from Rigoletto, 'Che gelida manina' from La Boheme as well as De Curtis and Giordano. Together Tito Gobbi and Oreste Kirkop sang a duet from Act IV of Puccini's La Boheme. The soprano ALICE TONNA also had her moment with Tito Gobbi, singing the duet from Act II of Verdi's La Traviata. What an evening it must have been for those who attended!
