Heritage NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa returns to Teatru Manoel to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in the very place where it was founded 50 years ago in 1965. The year's calendar of events will be inaugurated with a concert featuring violinist Carmine Lauri and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Brian Schembri. The concert, which is under the distinguished patronage of H.E. the President of Malta, will take place on Saturday, 21 February at 8pm. It is being held with the support of Teatru Manoel and the HSBC Malta Foundation. 

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will open the concert with Carmelo Pace's Sinfonietta.  This piece will be followed by Carmine Lauri who will perform Henryk Wieniawski:  Polonaise in D op. 4. The original version of the D major Polonaise was inspired by Karol Lipiński who introduced  Wieniawski  to interpretative models of the past masters of violin playing; Pablo de Sarasate: Romanza Andaluza op. 22/1,  a typical virtuoso work, full of beautiful melodies with the themes coming from Spain's Andalusian region; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Waltz Scherzo op. 34,  a work for violin and orchestra written in 1877; Henryk Wieniavski: Violin Concerto No.1 in F# minor: 3rd mvt. Wieniawski's compositions were principally for his own use, they include two important violin concertos as well as a number of pieces designed to display his technical and romantic musical accomplishments.

After a short interval, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour un enfant défunt and Dimitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E flat major Op 70.

All proceeds from the concert will be dedicated to Din l-Art Helwa's restoration programmes.  

Tickets for the performance are available online at www.teatrumanoel.com, by contacting [email protected], phoning on 2124 6389 or by visiting the Teatru Manoel's booking office, Old Theatre Street, Valletta - Monday to Friday between 10am and 1pm and 5 to 7pm or between 10am to 1pm on Saturday.