Music lovers can look forward to another month of chamber music at the Chapel of St Catherine of Italy this June.
The programme of concerts consists of musical performances and vocal recitals by established musicians and singers.
The first concert on Thursday features soprano Marita Bezzina singing a repertoire of much loved operatic arias from Tosca, Cavalleria Rusticana and Otello accompanied on the organ by Michelle Cachia Catelletti.
This will be followed on Sunday by a concert given by another established soprano Anita Cauchi who will sing sacred arias accompanied by Romina Morrow.
Another concert presenting vocal works will be held on Sunday 11 June this time with Pauline Longo together with Robert Calleja (flute), Mario Buhagiar (cello) and Alex Vella Gregory (harpsichord). This concert entitled In love with Bach, features arias for soprano and obbligato instruments, the all time favourite sonata No 1 for solo cello and a flute and harpsichord sonata.
Alex Vella Gregory, fresh from his studies at Napier University, Edinburgh, will also be performing baroque masterpieces for harpsichord by Handel, Scarlatti, Telemann and Bach on Thursday 15 June.
The use of the harpsichord, on temporary loan from the Manoel Theatre, has featured prominently in the concerts held at St Catherine of Italy, making possible a wider range of repertoire, specifically the baroque and early classical period.
Another three instrumental concerts will also be presented this month. On Thursday 8 June, violinist Sarah Spiteri and organist Michelle Cachia Castelletti present “Meditations” featuring works by Bach, Ketelby, Massenet and the hauntingly popular work by John Williams dedicated to Izatck Perlman from Schindler’s List.
Sarah Spiteri will perform again on 22 Thursday, this time in works for unaccompanied violin by “Masters of the bow” Telemann, Ysaye and Camilleri.
Flutists Ramona Zammit and Silvio Zammit will give a duo recital on Sunday 18 June featuring works by Mozart, Danzi, Vivaldi, Vitali and Beethoven.
The last concert of the month of June is very special – three clavichords in concert. The clavichord is a very fragile instrument, consequently few authentic early clavichords have survived.
The three instruments that will be used for this recital were made by Dr George Debono and are copies of Hass, Hubert and a typical 19th century model. The clavichord is a most subtle and expressive stringed keyboard instrument. As the sound of a clavichord is extremely soft, these instruments are generally used only for private music entertainment. Bach, Mozart and Beethoven owned clavichords, as did many other composers and nobility throughout Europe.
Ramona Zammit Formosa will perform works by Byrd, Bach, Cimarosa, Couperain and Mozart on these three clavichords. This is indeed a rare opportunity to hear this delicate instrument being played in the intimate surroundings of the St Catherine of Italy church.
All these performances will take place in the beautiful baroque church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta. Proceeds from these concerts will go towards the restoration fund of the church. For further information please contact St James Cavalier on. 2122 3200 or e-mail [email protected].