Chopin evening, orchestral concert in Grand Harbour

The Stradivari Season is presenting two more grand concerts in the International Summer Festival series - in Grand Harbour.

Bulgarian pianist Mario Angelov will present "A Romantic Chopin Evening" on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The programme will include Sonata in B Minor, Op. 58; Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39; eight Preludes from Op. 28; three Mazurkas, Op. 30 and Polonaise in A flat Major, Op. 53.

Angelov is holder of a number of awards. An outstanding soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, he is a frequent guest at several festivals in Europe and Asia. He has premiered more than 20 works by leading composers. He is currently the solo resident pianist at the Bulgarian National Radio.

The highlight of the International Summer Festival is a spectacular orchestral concert in which Mro Alan Chircop will conduct the National Orchestra, with the guest participation of violinist Eugeniy Chevkenov, on Friday at 8 p.m.

The programme includes Weber's Freischütz overture, Mendelssohn`s Symphony No. 4, "Italian", and Grieg's famous Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. The main work in the first part of the programme will be one of Beethoven's most beautiful and popular masterpieces, the Violin Concerto.

Chevkenov won numerous international prizes and in 2000 he was awarded the honorary citizenship of Vienna for extraordinary achievements in music. He plays as a regular sub with the Vienna Philharmonic and has performed in over 25 countries.

Alan Chircop, who is also the artistic director of the International Summer Festival 2004, graduated in Lyon, Leipzig and Vienna. He performed extensively in many European countries. He conducted several international symphony orchestras.

The International Summer Festival presented by the Stradivari Season is being held within the framework of the Summer Cultural Activities Series, which ranges from music and dance to film and theatre is oganised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta.

Ticket prices for the concerts range from Lm3 to Lm10. Reservations can be made on tel. 9945-7126; 7926-2391; or 9986-4967, or by e-mail: stradivari@global.net.mt. Tickets can be purchased from the Manoel Theatre Shop (tel: 2122-8800). Golden Circle tickets at Lm15 (including a glass of wine and return transport for tourists from hotels) are available only at Diamonds International in Valletta on tel. 2122-0200. www.stradivariseason.com.