The Valletta International Baroque Festival will be dominating the capital for the month of January 2019. With glamorous events taking place from the 11th to the 26th, the spectacular venues of Teatru Manoel, the Biblioteca, and St John's Co-Cathedral will echo with the sounds of Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.

The 7th edition of the festival will kick off with a performance by Capella Gabetta, Andrés Gabetta and Avi Avital, renowned international musicians who will take to Malta’s grandest stage at Teatru Manoel from 7.30pm for Mandolin Extravaganza - a celebration of the sounds created by the humble string instrument. The elegance and architectural beauty of Malta's national theatre creates the perfect setting for an evening of musical wonder. The line-up of the two-week event also includes updates on the traditional: PRISMA, an ensemble which has been touring Europe since their first performance, will enthrall with their renditions of 16th and 17th century pieces.

The festival's artistic director, Kenneth Zammit Tabona, highlights the integral role the capital plays, with its baroque architecture, art and artistic reverence. “Valletta, a walled baroque city whose foundation stone was laid in 1566, is indeed unique with its miniscule footprint which has remained unchanged since the 17th century.”

Indeed, the Valletta Baroque Festival will bring together art, architecture, sculpture and music creating a trompe l'oeil experience that is tightly rooted in the philosophy of the Baroque. Though Valletta is one of the main stars of the show, there are other acts which will host performances throughout the month, namely Mdina (the old capital), the Three Cities, Rabat, Ghaxaq and Zejtun.

Closing off the event is The Six Brandenburg Concertos where Les Passions de l’Âme and Meret Lüthi will perform to the crowd’s delight for the final occasion. And, this celebration of art and music will, indeed, end where it all started: at the Manoel Theatre. Get your tickets here!