Out of the 36 operas that Mozart composed, only a few are frequently performed. The second edition of the Valletta Early Opera Festival, in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, will present Il Re Pastore, one of Mozart’s lesser-known operas, directed by Maestro Giulio Prandi. Written when Mozart was just 19, this opera explores themes of war, star-crossed love, and triumph, similar to Così Fan Tutte, and has an Italian libretto by Metastasio. This year’s cast features countertenor Federico Fiorio as Aminta, Claire Debono as Tamiri, and Raffaele Giordani as Agenore, along with debutants Catherine Trottman as Elisa and Nico Darmanin as Alessandro. The production will also include the Arianna Art Ensemble, which consists of an orchestra with 28 musicians.