Vocal and harp recital closes music festival

A vocal and harp concert by Marie-Pierre Wattiez, soprano, and Anne Marie Camilleri Podestá, on the harp, conclude this year's Bir Miftuħ Music Festival organised by Din l-Art Ħelwa on Friday.

Ms Wattiez is a Parisian born soprano whose repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant to contemporary music. She has sung under the direction of Carlo Maria Giulini, Sir Georg Solti, John Elliott Gardiner and other celebrated directors and teaches vocal technique at the Sorbonne.

Ms Camilleri Podestá is a member of the Ġukulari Ensemble with whom she has played in Budapest, Vienna and Bologna. She has also played extensively overseas and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and accompanied tenor Joseph Calleja in Malta.

The concert programme covers works by Fauré, Debussy, Poulenc, Guinod, Berlioz and Duparc.

Sponsored by the French Embassy and the Alliance Fran-caise, the concert takes place at the medieval church of Santa Marija of Bir Miftuh. The church is accessed by taking a left turn at the roundabout before Malta International Airport.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 8 p.m., cost €20 per person, including refreshments after the performance. All funds raised through the Bir Miftuħ Music Festival are dedicated to Din l-Art Ħelwa's restoration activities.

For more information contact 2122 5952/2122 0358 between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, call at the offices of Din l-Art Ħelwa at 133 Melita Street, Valletta, or e-mail info@dinlarthelwa.org.