Comedy depends on timing, and so does music. Duo Baldo brings the two together this Wednesday, 21 October, at 7.30pm, when CONdivertimentoCERTO opens Teatru Manoel's Da Camera Chamber Music Concert Series at Sala Isouard.

American Violinist Brad Repp and Italian pianist and actor Aldo Gentileschi combine accomplished musicianship with theatrical humour, physical comedy and playful exchanges. The relationship between the two performers becomes part of the entertainment, as the familiar setting of a violin and piano recital offers opportunities for musical surprises and comic invention.

Their partnership brings together the precision required for demanding repertoire and the timing essential to successful comedy. For audiences, the appeal lies in experiencing both at once: the pleasure of hearing skilled musicians and the unpredictability of their theatrical interaction.

Duo Baldo made its debut with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in 2004 and subsequently performed at the opening of the Salzburg Festival in 2010. Appearances across Europe, the United States and Asia, including tours of China, Taiwan and Japan, have taken their distinctive approach to audiences internationally. Repp performs on a Testore violin dating from 1736, while Gentileschi brings his combined skills as a pianist and actor to their stage partnership.

The concert also introduces the variety awaiting audiences in the Da Camera Chamber Music Concert Series. Forthcoming programmes will explore the pairing of accordion and clarinet, the contrasting colours of oboe, flute and piano, and the expressive possibilities of cello and piano. A saxophone quintet, vocal recitals with piano and solo piano performances will offer further changes of mood, repertoire and instrumental character.

Sala Isouard's intimate setting lends itself to this experience, allowing listeners to follow the exchanges between performers and appreciate the individual contribution of each instrument or voice. Across the series, these different combinations will reveal the many ways musicians can create a conversation through sound.

With Duo Baldo setting the opening tone, Wednesday's event offers a lively invitation to discover the series.

The performance lasts approximately 75 minutes and welcomes audiences aged six and over. Tickets and further information are available at teatrumanoel.mt.