Yamaha grand for Caravaggio musical performances

Malta's first Yamaha grand piano is to be brought to Malta in time for the musical performances that will be held at Vittoriosa's Caraffa Stores as part of the exhibition Caravaggio - Una Mostra Impossible.

The piano, valued at Lm13,000 and which will arrive in mid-May, is being brought to Malta on the initiative of Joe Piscopo of Olimpus Music, who will be hiring the piano out in the future.

"We decided to support the musical performances at the Caravaggio exhibition by investing in this piano. There is no other piano of a similar standard available for hire for public performances," Mr Piscopo said.

Rosetta de Battista, who is coordinating the music events for the duration of the exhibition, said this was a long-awaited and much-needed investment for Malta.

"There is no piano of a suitable quality for concerts available for hire here and this has restricted the nature of performances. Mr Piscopo's initiative now makes possible events that were impossible before. The piano is of supreme quality and will be a great asset to musicians in their performances," she said.

Ms de Battista, Dominic Galea and the international jazz pianist Mike del Ferro will be the first to play the Yamaha grand piano in late May and June.

Mr del Ferro, who owns a Yamaha grand piano for his personal use at home, said: "Yamaha grand pianos are used in most concert halls the world over. I love their touch and find them to be most expressive instruments, with a brilliant tone."

Caravaggio - Una Mostra Impossibile will be open to the public between May 1 and June 30. Musical and dance performances will take place in the evenings.