Polymetric at the Palace

It is not hard to see why Igor Stravinsky's masterpiece Les Noces, finalised in 1923, will be played in Malta tonight only for the first time.

With an overwhelming arrangement involving four pianos, percussion and voices, this is possibly one of the more challenging pieces of music not only to perform but also to bring together.

"While it is relatively easy to find pianists for a duo, finding four pianists who can play well together is very difficult," musical director of the Stravinksy Project and Ars Ludi Ensemble member Gianluca Ruggeri said.

Stravinsky's music is a staple part of a percussionist's formation because of its polymetry and polyrhythms, meaning the percussive group, in its 10th visit to Malta, is familiar with this work.

It will be the first time, however, that they will be playing Les Noces with four pianos as well as other percussions, and they will be taking this show to Italy next.

"There is no particular anniversary why Stravinsky's music was chosen for the Malta Arts Festival but we wanted to celebrate the music of one of the 20th century's greatest composers," Mario Frendo, festival artistic director, said.

"Stravinsky is known for his very unusual combinations of instruments and for the fact that he wrote music that doesn't fall under any traditional form, and both Les Noces and Histoire du Soldat are proof of this.

"Although the music is undoubtedly very difficult for the performers to play, it is still very accessible for audiences," Mr Frendo added.

Les Noces, sung in Russian with a libretto written by Stravinsky himself, sees the composer dig into his roots. He takes traditional wedding jibes and greetings and weaves them into a piece of music, which is folkloristic and futuristic, with the Russian lyrics providing a complementary rhythm to the pianos and percussions. The work was conceived in 1913 but was only premiered 10 years later.

Les Noces is the centre point of Slavonic Folk Scenes shown by the Stravinsky Project at the Malta Arts Festival, which will include the composer's Tres Sacrae Cantiones (with Gesualdo di Venosa), Serenade in A, Russian Credo and Rumanian Folkdances by Bartok.

Meanwhile, tomorrow's show, Igor the Storyteller, will see Silvia Fanfani Schiavoni tell the Faustian story of a soldier who exchanges his violin for a book of knowledge - Histoire du Soldat, preceded by excerpts of Alexander Block's poetry - this time in English.

"It's storytelling, meaning words are necessary, however, there is a lot which isn't being spoken but told through the music," Ms Fanfani Schiavoni said.

Tomorrow evening is a collaboration between Maltese musicians Godfrey Mifsud, Roderick Bugeja, Sigmund Mifsud and Italian musicians, while tonight's performance will include the participation of percussion prodigy Daniel Cauchi.

The Stravinsky Project runs today and tomorrow in the courtyard of the President's Palace,Valletta. Tickets are at €15 for adults and concessions at €10. For more information visit www.maltaartsfestival.com

dschembri@timesofmalta.com