This year's opera closing the Gaulitana Festival 2026 will be Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore (The Troubadour), one of Verdi's most popular operas.
Il Trovatore was premiered in Rome in January 1853. The librettist was Salvatore Cammarano (left). Both portraits seen here are taken from the 1901 periodical by Casa Editrice Vallardi, featuring Verdi, his life and works (above).
Quite amazingly, Il Trovatore was performed in Malta's Manoel Theatre (then known as Real Teatro) only a few months after its premier in Rome. It remained one of the most popular operas.
I would like to share a few works and libretti from my own collection that show the continued popularity of this opera in Malta over the years.
The best way to get to know any opera in the 19th century was through transcriptions and arrangements for pianoforte. The entire work, or particular popular arias from the opera were published for pianoforte in varying degrees of difficulty by different publishing houses. Piano duets were extremely popular at the time. A Fantasia by Freres Billema, based on
Il Trovatore, was published by R. Stabilimento Ricordi around 1874 in a version for two pianists, 4 hands.
On the front it is stamped 'Music Depot, established 1842, Strada Santa Lucia, No. 49d'. This address, which was Giovanni Lebrun's, was taken over by Nani in the 1880s.
Freres Billema, Il Trovatore, 4 mani. R. Stabilimento Ricordi.
ABC. MTB.11
From the late 1880s we find the 'opera completa per pianoforte' published by the leading publishing house of Gio. Ricordi, at this time amalgamated with the firm of Francesco Lucca (1888-1897).
This work is boldly stamped 'Giovanni Spiteri at 2D Strada Mezzodi', on the front cover. This outlet in Valletta also sold some of the best pianos, organs and harmoniums of all times - Steinway & Son, Bechstein, Pleyel, Erard, Boisselot and Alexander.
Il Trovatore, 'Opera completa per pianoforte', G. Ricordi & C. [c.1888]. Sold at the outlet of GIOVANNI SPITERI, 2D Strada Mezzodi'
ABC. Z01
Libretti were imported or printed locally. Those printed locally were either printed in English or in Italian, and often in both languages side by side, as is the case with Il Trovatore printed by G. Abela, probably in the 1880s.
A Libretto printed in Malta by G. Abela, 11 Str. Cristoforo, Valletta. The Libretto is in Italian with English translation, side by side. Sold for one shilling. s.d.
ABC. P. CA
Libretti printed in Italy by Edizioni Ricordi were also popular in Malta. This particular one was sold in the early 1900s by 'P. Carabott Music Establishment at 17 Strada Mercanti, Valletta'. Paolo Carabott was stamping this address in the 1920s
Libretto in Italian. G. Verdi, Il Trovatore, Edizioni Ricordi
ABC. MSZ.17
