The Preti Revisited series of concerts at the church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta will be premiering the first ever public performance on a clavichord in Malta.

There will be two clavichord recitals today, one at lunchtime and the other in the evening, as part of the celebration of the return to the church of the restored masterpiece depicting the titular painting of St Catherine of Alexandria by Mattia Preti.

The performer is Ramona Zammit Formosa, who has already given one recital to a small audience at a private home some weeks ago. The programme features works by Bach, Byrd, Cimarosa, Couperin, Narvaez and Mozart.

The first part of this programme (J.S. Bach and Byrd) will be played on a typical “modern” clavichord similar to those made during the late 19th century.

The second part (CPE Bach, Cimarosa) will be played on a replica of a double-fretted clavichord made by Christian Gottlob Hubert in 1784 in Ansbach, Germany.

The third part of the programme (Couperin, de Narvaez, Mozart) will be played on a replica of a clavichord made by Johann Adolf Hass in 1761 in Hamburg Germany.

The performances are at 12.30pm and 7.30pm and admission is Lm2. All the proceeds will go towards the restoration fund of the church of St Catherine of Italy. For further information please contact St James Cavalier on 2122-3216 or email [email protected]