Based on Petra Kelly's book titled Fighting for Hope, the 18th Malta Spring Festival promises to be a powerful and thought-provoking musical journey.  Kicking off on the 2nd of April at St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, the Opening Concert features the great violin virtuoso and conductor Dimitry Sitkovetsky with the Purcell School Chamber Soloists, a dynamic string ensemble comprising exceptional young musicians from the prestigious Purcell School. Led by the renowned Dmitry Sitkovetsky, the ensemble will present a diverse program ranging from Henry Purcell's Fantasia to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Octet. 

As the festival unfolds, Rachel Gauci's debut Piano Recital at the Teatru Manoel on the 5th of April, will feature works by Olivier Messiaen and Franz Liszt.  The 6th of April performance by the Ensemble Télémaque from Marseille will focus on the Mediterranean region's musical heritage that thrives regardless of the diverse cultural and linguistic landscapes along its shores.  Here we shall be listening to the music of three contemporary mediterranean composers from Corsica, Sardinia and Malta followed by Luciano Berio's acclaimed Folk Songs.

 

On the 9th and 10th of April with Rising Stars Concerts I and II, highlighting exceptional young talents from the Malta School of Music in saxophone quartet, piano performances, and the School of Music Little Big band. On the 11th of April at Casino Maltese Alba dal Collo, choreographer, dancer, singer has created a dance performance evocative of hope in the light of recent worldwide events.

 

Friday 12th April will explore Ġużè Camilleri's researched 'Anecdotes of Maltese Early Jazz' weaving together live music with film, offering the audience a bonding of music and visuals. Concluding the festival with grandeur on the 13th of April at Teatru Manoel, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Anne Marie Granau, will perform masterpieces by Carl Nielsen, Franz Liszt and Igor Stravinsky, featuring acclaimed pianist Dinara Klinton and tenor Alan Sciberras while marking Giacomo Puccini's 100th year of his demise.

 

Here is a detailed programme of the first three concerts

 

2nd April Opening Concert | Dimitry Sitkovetsky & the Purcell School Chamber Soloists | St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral 8pm

Formed in 2024 to celebrate the Purcell School of Music's collaboration with The Malta Spring Festival and the great violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky the Purcell School Chamber Soloists is a string ensemble formed by a group of outstanding young musicians, mostly in their final year at the prestigious Purcell School based in London. 

Henry Purcell | Fantasia in D Minor In Nomine 15

Grazyna Bacewicz | Quartet for 4 violins

Luigi Boccherini | Musica Notturna delle strade di Madrid

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy | Octet

Dimitry Sitkovetsky, leader

 

5th April | Rachel Gauci Piano Recital | Teatru Manoel 8pm

Recently graduated with a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, tonight's performance will be Rachel Gauci's debut recital at the Teatru Manoel. Rachel has performed in the UK, Austria and France and has been praised for her rich warm tone and emotional expression.

 

Olivier Messiaen | Vingt Regards sur l'enfant Jésus

I. Regard du Père

II. Regard de l'étoile

III. L'échange

VII. Regard de la Croix

XIII. Noël

XIX. Je dors, mais mon cœur vielle

 

Franz Liszt | Années de pèlerinage. Première année: Suisse, S.160

1. Chapelle de Guillaume Tell

8. Le mal du pays

9. Les Cloches de Genève: Nocturne

6. Vallée d'Obermann

 

6th April | Ensemble Télémaque | Teatru Manoel 8pm

The Mediterranean region boasts a deeply entrenched musical heritage that thrives regardless of the diverse cultural and linguistic landscapes along its shores. This enduring tradition transcends time, leaving an indelible mark on the essence of individuals hailing from these locales. Here we shall be listening to the music of three contemporary mediterranean composers from Corsica, Sardinia and Malta followed by Luciano Berio's acclaimed Folk Songs.

 

Jérôme Casalonga | Nuraghe for launeddas & ensemble

Karl Fiorini | Fighting for Hope for mandolin et ensemble

Maria Vincenza Cabizza | 8 : Il ballo delle occiate for Launeddas, mandolin & ensemble

Luciano Berio | Folk Songs (1964) for Soprano and ensemble

Vincent Beer-Demander, mandolin

Michele Deiana, launeddas

Laura Delogu, soprano

Raoul Lay, conductor

 

Admission for the concerts is free for children aged 15 years and younger with a 50% discount for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Teatru Manoel's Booking Office on 2124 6389, 10:00-17:00, by sending an email on [email protected] or online from www.teatrumanoel.mt.

 

The 18th Malta Spring Festival is supported by Arts Council Malta, The Embassy Valletta Hotel, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di La Valletta and the Ambassade de France à Malte.

 

 

Marie Benoît returns with her Diary next week. She wishes the readers of The Malta Independent A Very Happy Easter