The fourth edition of the International Spring Orchestra Festival supported by the Vodafone Malta Foundation kicks off today with a concert by the Rotterdam Sinfonietta, conducted by Roberto Beltran, under the patronage of President George Abela.

The festival is being held at the Manoel Theatre between 5-9 April and will see a number of Maltese composers and musicians perform alongside foreign participants. The festival is also being supported by the Malta Arts Fund.

On Tuesday 6 April, at 7.30pm in the Sala Isouard, violinist Emanuel Salvador and pianist Giselle Grima will take the audience on a journey “From Schumann to the 21st Century” with works by Schumann, Liszt, Ysaye and local composer Ruben Zahra.

On Wednesday, 7 April, the soloists of the Rotterdam Sinfonietta will be giving a concert at 12.30pm in the Sala Isouard for whoever will be in Valletta and wants to pass by to listen to a fascinating chamber repertoire.

On Thursday 8 April, at 6pm, the Rotterdam Sinfonietta will give a concert at Mater Dei Hospital for patients and their relatives as well as to commemorate the first anniversary of the Malta Heart Foundation. The concert will be held under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi.

The festival will close with another orchestral concert on Friday 9 April, at 7.30pm, by the Rotterdam Sinfonietta featuring young local piano prodigy Charlene Farrugia as guest soloist. They will be performing Ravel’s colourful Tzigane and Bartok’s astonishing ‘Miraculous Mandarin Suite’ among others.

This year the festival will also include four short concerts entitled “Discovering the Orchestra” aimed at young audiences aged between eight and 16. These one-hour orchestral concerts will take place at the Manoel Theatre and the conductor will be explaining to the audience what happens on stage and the role of each section of the orchestra. These concerts will be in a form of a master class.

The first two children’s concerts will be held on 5 April at 4 and 5.30pm and the other two on Friday, 9 April, at 4 and 5.30pm. Children within this age bracket or younger are admitted for free while guardians and parents make a €1 donation.

Tickets are sold at €10, €15 and €20 and may be booked from the Manoel Theatre box office on 2124 6389 or online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt. The lunchtime chamber concert is open to the public free of charge.