The 19th edition of the popular Victoria International Arts Festival has just been unwrapped. Running uninterrupted for five weeks, the Festival brings together 600 musicians hailing from 20 countries including Australia, South Korea and Taiwan.
During a brief visit to Robert Sammut Hall, where the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra was rehearsing with Mro Joseph Vella for their closing concert on 11 July, Charles Azzopardi, head PR & Marketing at Bank of Valletta confirmed the bank's renewed support for this year's edition.
Reminiscing, Mro Vella explained how the Festival was created by the Laudate Peuri Choir of St George's Basilica in 1997. "The choir always focused on cultivating and promoting sacred music, primarily sacred polyphony. Today, under the direction of Rev. George Joseph Frendo, the choir has become a leading interpreter of polyphonic music of both the classic and the contemporary idioms." From its very first edition, the Festival sought to attract artists and ensembles from all over the world. During these five spectacular weeks of uninterrupted music, Victoria becomes the heart that blends drive and professional ethos with the typical Gozitan penchant for laid-bank charm. "Over the years, the Festival has garnered for itself a presence in the cultural calendar of the Maltese islands, building an ever widening network of patrons from all over the world," he explained.
Corroborating on Mro Vella's statement, Mr Azzopardi said: "At Bank of Valletta, the development of arts and culture, along with the conservation of our rich history are important concerns, particularly in our Community Programme, through which we seek to maintain an active role in our small, albeit very creative and resourceful communities." He congratulated Mro Vella and all involved for "their incessant efforts to make the Festival grow, year on year". Mr Azzopardi also mentioned the significant contribution that such an event will have on the tourism industry by attracting a niche segment that would be interested in attending, thereby giving our islands artistic prominence internationally.
This year's Festival offers audiences important firsts, in the form of more diverse formations of musicians like string quartets and piano sextets. "Of course, the inimitable Malta Philharmonic Orchestra remains a protagonist for both the opening and closing concerts, during which it will tackle works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky," Mro Vella said enthusiastically. "We are also very proud to announce the inauguration of a reconditions antique square piano. Works by over 150 composers will be performed, including five newly commissioned works." In addition the Festival will feature five whole days of Baroque concerts on period instruments.
The full programme can be viewed at www.viaf.org.mt/programme/ or from the Festival's website www.viaf.org.mt