Check this out! Valletta Baroque Festival celebrates Maltese artists with fully local line-up
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Valletta Baroque Festival still promises some heavy hitters.
Last week, Festivals Malta announced that, due to the developing COVID-19 situation in Malta and around the world, the programme of the Valletta Baroque Festival’s 10th edition has been reduced in length.
In its present state, the festival is now set to take place between 18th and 28th January, featuring a fully local line-up with midday and evening concerts.
Nonetheless, the Valetta Baroque Festival still promises some heavy hitters…
For starters, the Valletta Baroque Ensemble and Kor Malta are set to perform Handle’s Messiah, the Monteverdi Project will be putting up a premier performance of madrigals by Tozzi and Turini under the direction of Marco Mencoboni, and The Rock Troupers will be performing rock adaptations of baroque music featuring Bach, Vivaldi, Metallica, and Pink Floyd.
But wait, there’s more!
Under Philip Walsh’s direction, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing a commissioned work by Ruben Zahra, aptly inspired by baroque music, and the Valletta Baroque Ensemble will grace audiences’ ears with Nicola Logroscino’s Stabat Mater.
Malta’s unique baroque architecture will still be heavily featured throughout the programme, with particular focus on our capital city, Valletta. The concert venues include St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Archaeology Museum, and Teatru Manoel, amongst others.
Festivals Malta CEO, Annabelle Stivala said that, although the decision to reduce the festival programme’s length was a difficult one – especially given that this was its first year under the agency’s remit – responsible action had to be taken in order to safeguard the health of all patrons, crew and artists.
The international ensembles programmed for this year’s edition will be postponed and featured in next year’s edition of the Valletta Baroque Festival.
The Valletta Baroque Festival is produced by Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel and Visit Malta. Performances will be taking place between 18th and 28th January 2022. For tickets and more information, visit www.vallettabaroquefestival.mt.