The Strange Life of Betta Caloiro

On the 6th of September 1608, Betta Caloiro, a convicted heretic, passed away in her prison cell at the Inquisitor’s Palace, where she was serving an 8-year sentence, during which she allegedly had an intimate relationship with the devil. Who was she? Was she really an evil witch or even a heretic? Or was she just a poor lonely old woman with good intentions? And was the Inquisitor really such a terrible guy?

Join us on the 2nd or 3rd of July for a roaming concert at the Inquisitor’s Palace itself, and discover all of this and more to the sound of some wonderful 17ᵗʰ century polyphonic sacred and secular vocal music in one of Malta’s most prestigious heritage venues. The event is a collaboration with the all-male choir Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, with actors Antonella Galea Loffreda, Matthew Balzan, and Joseph Zammit illustrating Betta’s life.

Performances shall take place as follows: Saturday, 2nd July – 19:30 & 20:30 and Sunday, 3rd July – 18:00 & 19:00. Meeting point: Inquisitor’s Palace reception, 15 minutes prior to each performance.

Please note that this event is not fully accessible to those with mobility issues.

Adapted from Carmel Cassar, Witchcraft, Sorcery and the Inquisition, Malta, Mireva Publications, 1996