For the second consecutive year, St James Cavalier and the Valletta Rehabilitation Project are organising a week-long Easter festival, Passiontide, a cultural response to the events of Holy Week. This festival of theatre and music celebrating our European Christian heritage will be held in the magnificent baroque church of St Catherine of Italy.

The festival starts tomorrow and ends on 17 April. It will include performances such as concerts of classical and contemporary music, an exhibition of sacred sculptures, theatre and dance. All events will be staged in the baroque church of St Catherine of Italy, except for the Jazz Concert, which will be held at St James Cavalier.

The festival opens today with an exhibition of sacred sculptures by Fr Charles Vella, at St Catherine of Italy in Valletta. The concerts are a good mix of classical and contemporary music, by renowned composers such as Mozart, Haydn and Bach, and also works by Maltese composers. Other featured works are a dance meditation inspired by Mozart’s Grabmusik, sacred works by contemporary Maltese composers, and a reading from the Gospel according to St Luke, which is a theatrical performance by Polly March.

The success of this festival depends both on the support of the sponsors, the Malta Stock Exchange, the Central Bank of Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority, and the input of the various artists who have come together for this festival. The artistic director of Passiontide, Sarah Spiteri, has the collaboration of over 50 artists from the various artistic fields, including Collegium Musicum under the direction of Mro Dion Buhagiar, Promuzika Ensemble, Musique Vocal Ensemble, John McDonaugh, Alex Vella Gregory, Polly March, Kris Spiteri, Fiorella Camilleri, Alex Debono and Joe Vella.

Tickets for all these performances are available from St James Cavalier (Tel 2122 3200). All proceeds from this festival go towards the Restoration Fund of St Catherine of Italy Church.