The popular Malta International Organ Festival is returning to the islands' beautiful churches, cathedrals, and theatres to present the public with the opportunity to discover Malta's heritage through music. It is organised and artistically directed by the Maltese baritone Dr. Joseph Lia and has become a well-known staple in the Malta arts and music calendar.
This year, the festival will comprise as many as 11 concerts, four of which are not-to-be-missed highlights, including the grand opening concert kicking off the festival on November 19, the NDSF 5th Anniversary Concert on November 25, a unique masterpiece by Mussorgsky performed by an internationally renowned organist on November 29, and the grand finale on December 6.
VIVALDI'S GLORIA FOR THE GRAND OPENING CONCERT
The grand opening concert's highlight will be Vivaldi's Gloria sung by the Ukraine-based Kiev Baroque Consort female choir under the baton of Nancy Milesis Romano. It is worth mentioning that the choir will sing Vivaldi's original score, which he composed for the orphaned girls of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice back in the early 18th century. Vivaldi held the orphaned girls in such high regard that he taught them music and composed for them. He also trusted them with singing the chorus parts written for tenor and bass.
Vivaldi's Gloria gained international recognition in the 20th century due to numerous recordings and performances by choirs and period-instrument performers alike. It is a demanding piece involving leaping octaves, emphatic choral cords, and shifts in mood.
Two other pieces will accompany the concert's Vivaldi highlight: Oboist Ismaïl Mourtada will perform Albinoni's Oboe Concerto Op. 9 No. 2, and baritone Joseph Lia will take the stage to sing a string of sacred arias. The grand opening concert will take place on Saturday, November 19 at 8pm, at the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta.
THE NDSF 5TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
The second festival highlight is the NDSF 5th Anniversary Concert, happening on November 25 at St John's Co-Cathedral Valletta. Adolf Alejo from Mexico will conduct the Rheinberger Organ Concerto No. 2, Op. 177, a concerto for organ and orchestra that's probably being performed in Malta for the first time. Alejo will also play the solo violin in Respighi's arrangement of Tomaso Antonio Vitali's Chaconne in G minor. Vitali had written the piece for violin and continuo, which Respighi arranged for strings, violin solo, and organ.
The concert will also comprise solo organ pieces by J.S. Bach and one of Malta's prominent composers Christopher Muscat. Liliia Pechenkina, the organist who won last year's festival competition will perform the organ solos, and baritone Joseph Lia will sing
MUSSORGSKY'S PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION
The third festival highlight is Svetlana Vladimirovna's performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition on the organ at St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, on November 29. Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite of 10 piano pieces, that was later also orchestrated for orchestra, and is considered Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition and a showpiece for virtuoso pianists.
GRAND CLOSING CONCERT 'AMORE SACRO - AMORE PROFANO'
The fourth festival highlight is the grand closing concert, 'Amore Sacro - Amore Profano' - a Baroque Vocal Concert, featuring Italian musicians Roberta Mameli (soprano), Luca Oberti (organ), and Noelia Reverte Reche (viola da gamba), on December 6 at the beautiful Manoel Theatre in Valletta. The opportunity to watch and listen to singer Roberta Mameli is not to be missed. She's known for her charismatic stage presence, for a voice that mesmerises and captures the audience, and for occupying major roles in international performances. This is the first time that the organ festival is using the Manoel Theatre as one of its locations.
Soprano Roberta Mameli in Santa Pelagia, Festival di Nepi 2016. Photography courtesy Roberta Mameli.
CONCERTS FOR THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL
Another seven concerts are lined up for the Malta International Organ Festival. On Sunday, November 20, organist Frantisek Vanicek from the Czech Republic will perform pieces from the early music period up until the 21st century at Gozo's Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption in Cittadella. Following that, on November 23 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta, St Julian's, Bernhard Gferer from Austria will give a solo organ concert featuring works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Gigout, Dubois, and Guilmant.
On November 26, organist Mattias Gieson and cellist Thomas Wall will give an organ and cello concert at St Theresa Church, Cospicua. A students' concert will be held on November 30 at St Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara, followed by 'The Spanish Golden Era and Beyond' solo organ concert with Augusto Belau on the organ on December 1 at St Mary's Parish Church, Ghaxaq.
Michael Mages (organ) and Semjon Kalinowsky (viola) will perform in 'A Journey Through Europe' on December 2 at Sacro Cuor Parish Church, Sliema, where the organ has recently been restored by Robert Buhagiar. A dose of Christmas joy can be enjoyed on December 3 during the 'Christmas Prelude' organ and trumpet concert with Franco Cefai and Jason Camilleri at St Mark's Church, Rabat.
The Malta International Organ Festival 2022 runs from November 19 till December 6. Visit www.MaltaInternationalOrganFestival.com for the full programme. Tickets can be bought from TicketLine.com.mt and the Manoel Theatre booking office. The festival is mainly supported by the NDSF, and also Arts Council Malta.