An evening of true musical excellence

The historic and artistic ambiance of the Manoel Theatre's Sala Isouard for the Trittico Musicale Concert on November 14, ideally lent itself to the days when talented performers provided an evening's cultural entertainment in the privacy of privileged sitting rooms, entertainment provided by travelling performers engaged in one's home at a cost that only the rich and titled could afford.

The concert provided an excellent evening of entertainment for the public in a "salon" atmosphere with Giuseppe Devastato as the highly accomplished solo pianist to accompany exquisite soprano Giuseppina Chirizzi (both Italian) and the formidable Serbian mezzo-soprano Katarina Nikolic who stole many hearts with her voice and poise.

The general applause throughout clearly defined the appreciation of an attentive audience.

Besides a mixture of classical and light classical operatic and operetta arias, the second part of the concert contained a tribute to the late Maltese composer Charles Camilleri's composition Aria: The Maltese Cross with lyrics by the Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott who was in attendance to explain the background that inspired the music and words, very fittingly emanating from the time of the Order of the Knights of St John in Malta and fittingly emphasising a presentation that the Knights would have appreciated from the Manoel Theatre during their sojourn.

I congratulate the organisers Fiesole Artistic Productions for having included this complex aria which was excellently sung by soprano Chirizzi.

One can appreciate the difficulties of an evening of mostly solo performances limited to a lone musical instrument (albeit a highly versatile piano) in having to captivate and entertain an audience and keep it on its toes throughout the total performance.

However, the undoubted talent of Mr Devastato on the piano and his own composition Inno dei Cavalieri di Malta, together with the combined accomplishments of his companion soloists Chirizzi and Nikolic made for a vibrant and excellent evening of talent.

We all look forward to other high level concerts of this nature, honouring music and culture in an ideal environment.