As part of the Friday Concert Series organised by Barocco Cultural Events, a tribute concert to Mro Charles Camilleri will be held at the Sagrestia Vault, Valletta Waterfront, on January 23 at 7.30 p.m.

Barocco Cultural Events has been preparing for this concert since last September, when Mro Camilleri and his wife Doris generously donated some of his original manuscripts to be hung in the Sagrestia Vault. The composer was to be special guest at the concert and inaugurate the manuscripts.

Due to the unfortunate change in events, the concert has been renamed: A tribute to Maestro Charles Camilleri: a Maltese composer and artist.

Mro Camilleri was initially inspired by Maltese folk music, which led him to explore more complex musical forms. He composed over 300 works for orchestra, opera, chamber ensembles, ballet, voice and solo instruments and the famous Malta Suite, among other things. Half of his compositions have been recorded on 35 CDs sold around the world.

The concert will be a showcase of Mro Camilleri's sacred and secular music for voice, piano and flute. The programme will feature Desert Songs, Interchangeable Galaxies, Floating Love, Concerto Americano and arias from Kanti Popolari and the opera The Maltese Cross.

The performers will be soprano Marita Bezzina, flautist Silvio Zammit and pianist Ramona Zammit Formosa, who are all well-acquainted with the composer and have had the opportunity to collaborate closely with him in the past.

The entrance to the Sagrestia Vault is through the chapel, which gives the audience a unique opportunity to view and admire this tiny but quaint and elaborate baroque building. A reception will be held after the concert.

Tickets cost €12 and can be reserved by calling 7968 0952, 2122 3200 or e-mail bookings@baroccomalta.com.