The cellars of the Auberge d’Italie, which once housed the treasures of Malta during World War Two, will soon host Leos Janacek’s Intimate Letters. The concert, to be held on Thursday 29 March at 8pm, is the third in the popular series of Intimate Letters concerts which link the letters of famous composers to their music.
The works to be featured are Janacek’s two string quartets, The Kreutzer Sonata and Intimate Letters.
Janacek’s letters have been the original inspiration behind this music project. For many years, Janacek’s letters to Kamilla Stosslova were subject to a taboo.
It was known that he had maintained a close friendship with a woman half his age who had apparently inspired many of the works of his late years. But the exact nature of the relationship remained unclear until the letters were published.
Some 700 letters from Janacek to Stosslova survived. Quite apart from their musicological and biographical significance, these letters are valuable as being the most beautiful and self-revealing ever written by Janacek. These letters go to the heart of his inner life, and within them, they contain a great love story.
The second string quartet, Intimate Letters, is the work most directly inspired by Kamilla. These intriguing works will be performed by the Bennewitz String Quartet. This Czech quartet was established in 1998 at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
They quickly acquired a wide reputation and established themselves among the most outstanding chamber ensembles of Czech musical life.
They refined their skills in Madrid under the guidance of Prof. Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet) and in Basel with Prof. Walter Levin (LaSalle Quartet).
Intimate Letters is a production of St James Cavalier in collaboration with Novartis. The series is supported by BOV, Camilleri Wines, go mobile, Le Meridienne Phoenicia, Portomaso, Vascas and the Manoel.
Tickets at Lm6 (e13.98) and Lm3 (e6.99) (concession) are available from St James booking office. For further information, contact booking office on tel.: 2122-3200 or by email to: [email protected] or visit www.sjcav.org.