Nani family's music

On May 26 I attended a public lecture given by Jesmond Grixti, the Maltese composer who is studying and working in Australia, at La Valette Band Club on the Maltese distinguished composer and conductor Dr Paolo Nani (1814-1904).

Mr Grixti, who as part of his work in composition leading up to his Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, has prepared a modern performance edition of Dr Nani's opera La Mezza Notte, which was performed at the Manoel Theatre in 1844 and 1845, in his lecture made reference to his extensive and exhaustive research on the life and musical genius and achievements of Dr Paolo Nani.

After giving a true biographical evaluation of Nani's musical studies in Naples, his contacts with musical celebrities of the age and his serious musical activity in Malta, Grixti described Nani's musical genius with his melodious and beautiful composition which was definitely the product of the Neapolitan school. He also spoke about the prestigious awards accorded to Nani.

The lecturer complained about the unnecessary difficulties the scholar has to encounter in his research in having access to the musical manuscripts kept in the Nani Room in the music archives at the Mdina Cathedral Museum.