Baroque and classical music lovers in Malta are in for a unique treat this Easter as the internationally acclaimed Italian pianist Francesco Attesti will play Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the 5th April.

The concert will be presented by the Embassy of Italy, Teatru Manoel and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Widely considered as one of the most demanding works ever written for keyboard, and an important example of variation form, The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 consist of an aria and a set of 30 variations – named after its supposed first performer, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg.

“Italian composers are known worldwide, from Monteverdi to Busoni, Scarlatti to Berio,” says His Excellency, the Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Romano.

“Italy is also a country of conductors, interpreters and performers. When it comes to piano, all music-lovers are familiar with Benedetti Michelangeli, Pollini and Ciccolini”.

“In keeping with this tradition, Francesco Attesti is an outstanding example of the younger generation of players who bring both respect and new ideas, and especially, a sophisticated technique”, he continued.

Francesco Attesti is without a doubt one of the finest interpreters of romantic and early 20th century repertoire of his generation.

He has trained in Salzburg, Rome, and Florence, refining his skills under the instruction of many prestigious Maestros.

The talented musician has also recorded CDs with several labels and collaborated with contemporary composers such as Silvia Bianchera Bettinelli and Biagio Putignano, as well as recorded Mozart’s piano concertos for the Deeply Mozart DVD.

Maestro Attesti was also honoured with the ‘Artist changing lives’ titles by the city of Edinburg (Texas, USA), and has received the ‘Key to the City’ in both McAllen, USA and New York, USA, for his artistry and human skills.

So far, he has performed in more than 40 countries and continues to mesmerise audiences in renowned concert halls worldwide.

Describing Attesti, the Lake City Journal from Florida, USA, said that “Attesti seems to relish pieces of extraordinary difficulty, playing with confidence and passion that charms the most demanding critics and concertgoers around the world”.

“It went totally beyond my expectations. Francesco's music has a way of speaking to your heart”, the artist manager, Ann Stevens expressed.

The Warsaw Gazeta touted his concert as “The sound of a genius!”, while fellow concert pianist Hector Moreno called him “an extraordinary professional who greatly combines musicality and enormous talent, all of which makes him belong to the elite of the young Italian concertists”.

This incredible concert will be held at the Teatru Manoel on the 5^th April at 8pm. Tickets can be bought on here or by sending an email to [email protected]. You can also telephone on (+356) 2124 6389.