The National Orchestra resumes its National Orchestra Concerto Series on Tuesday at the Manoel Theatre with one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s master works – the Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major Op. 58 featuring young pianist Caroline Calleja. Under the direction of its music director Michael Laus, the National Orchestra will perform one of Beethoven’s rarely-performed works – The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113 (Overture) while the second half will be dedicated to Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major Op. 88.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 was composed between 1805-1806, although no autograph copy survives. This work was premiered by Beethoven himself at a private concert given in March 1807 at the palace of his patron, Prince Lobkowitz. Beethoven dedicated the concerto to his friend, student, and patron, the Archduke Rudolph. A review in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung (May 1809) says that “[this concerto] is the most admirable, singular, artistic and complex Beethoven concerto ever.”
Caroline Calleja, first-prize winner of a number of piano competitions, studied at the Conservatoire National de Region de Lyon in France, with Hervè Billaut (piano) and Christophe Truant (harp). She then proceeded to the University of Malta where she graduated Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and later Master of Music specialising in piano performance under the guidance of Michael Laus. Despite her young age, Calleja is busy performing in Malta and in Europe and has collaborated with internationally-acclaimed artists among whom clarinettist Philippe Cuper, flutists Giuseppe Nova and Andrea Griminelli. Calleja teaches piano and harp at the Johann Strauss School of Music, Valletta and has been the principal harpist of the National Orchestra of Malta since 1998.
Tickets at Lm12, Lm10, Lm8, Lm6 and Lm5 (VAT included) may be booked by email to [email protected] or on tel: 2124-6389. A limited number of tickets at a discounted price will be made available to students and senior citizens on a first come, first served basis. The concert starts at 7.30pm.