The Classique Foundation (VO/0331) is a non-profit cultural organization whose main objective is to promote culture by organizing musical concerts from time to time. During the past years it has organized highly successful music events featuring local and internationally renowned artists and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. This year it will embark on a new project and will be organizing the first edition of a mini-festival entitled MUSIC+ which will take place between September and November 2018
MUSIC+ will consist of recitals from local and international artists, master classes in different instruments, workshops for Primary school students, talks and it will close with a conference.
MUSIC+ kicks off on 28th September 2018 with a recital by Edlira Shkurti (violin) and Erga Halilaj (piano) from Albania. Shkurti is a member of the RTSH Orchestra of Tirana, Albania whereas Halilaj, apart from being a member of the RTSH Orchestra, is also a visiting professor at the University of Arts of Tirana. This is followed by three other recitals: one on 29th September 2018 featuring up-and-coming Gozitan pianist Francis James Camilleri; another one on 30th September 2018 featuring Laura Magistrelli (clarinet) and Marina Degl'Innocenti (piano) from Italy - Magistrelli is professor of clarinet at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi of Milan; and the last one on 28th October 2018 featuring trumpeter Brendan Ball, trumpet player with the Malta Philharmonic, and pianist Elaine Mercieca. During the latter Ball and Mercieca will give the world premiere of Alan Cassar's Deconstructed Images. Apart from some of the well-known classics, all these concerts will feature music by Maltese composers. These concerts will be held at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo and start at 19.30hrs.
On 29th September 2018 morning, starting at 09.00hrs, Laura Magistrelli, Edlira Shkurti and Erga Halilaj will give master classes in clarinet, violin, and piano respectively. These will be held at the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School, Xewkija, Gozo.
Two workshops intended for selected Primary School children, OPERA 4 KIDS also form part of this mini-festival. These workshops will be conducted by Ms. Sarah Spiteri. These workshops are going to be held on 4th October 2018.
On 5th October 2018 at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo at 19:30hrs, Dr Abraham Borg will deliver a talk, Opera in Malta: a brief overview.
MUSIC+ comes to an end with a conference: The Future of Opera in the Maltese Islands