Although Corto Maltese has been a cult favorite in North America for years—and is finally being translated by us in definitive English-language editions—many fans may not realize just HOW popular the series is worldwide.
Here’s a clue: On September 20 and 22, The Teatru Manoel Youth Opera in Malta will perform an opera based on Corto Maltese: The Ballad of the Salty Sea!
Here is the description from the website:
20 – 22 September 2018
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
This contemporary production is based on the cult 1967 graphic novel, Corto Maltese: Una Ballata del Mare Salato by Hugo Pratt, where avid readers were first introduced to the series’ eponymous protagonist. Set in the Pacific on the eve of World War I, the narrative follows the daring adventures of Corto Maltese, a sea captain and occasional pirate with a lust for travel, treasure and adventure.
Audiences won’t want to miss the chance to catch this swash-buckling adaptation of the original storyline where our dapper sailor meets the enigmatic character, Rasputin. This colourful production is the latest in a long-running initiative by the Teatru Manoel Youth Opera, which gives young local opera singers a platform to develop their skills while collaborating with local professionals and other European practitioners.
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This isn’t the first time “low-brow art” has been fused with the height of culture and class. A stage adaptation of Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery and Andy Belanger’s Kill Shakespeare gets regular performances around the world, including the Globe Theatre in London.
If you find yourself in Malta at the end of the month, please take in this show and then tell us all about it! We are so curious to find out what it is like!
