MCI activities this month

The Malta Cultural Institute will be inaugurating its season with a festival of three concerts this month.

The first concert is being held on Monday at the Hotel Le Méridien in St Julians at 7 p.m. This concert will be held in collaboration with Gloria – Making Music Malta International Festival. The MCI will be presenting the soloists who are coming to Malta to participate in the Gloria festival.

This concert will bring together soprano Karen Johnson (UK), mezzo-soprano Alexandra Schembri (Malta), tenor Bo Wang (China), baritone Jonathan Alley (Australia) and pianist Kevin Thraves (UK).

They will be under the direction of John Bethell. The programme presented is concentrated on very well-known excerpts from the operatic repertoire and some of the best-loved classical songs.

Another special concert will be held in collaboration with the Marie-Therese Vassallo Voice Studio on Wednesday, October 26 at the Hotel Le Méridien in St Julians at 7 p.m. A joint choral concert will be presented by the soloists and choristers of the Marie-Therese Vassallo Voice Studio and the Castell Coch Choral Society of Cardiff. This is a result of a twinning arrangement between the two choirs.

The Maltese choir visited Wales in July and the Welsh choir is now returning this visit.

The Maltese choir will be directed by Marie Therese Vassallo and accompanied by pianists/organists Rita Paris and Michael Camilleri. The Welsh choir will be under the direction of Linda Morgan and accompanied by John Wickett. The programme will include operatic arias and duets, medleys from Broadway shows and a strong concentration on Welsh and Maltese favourites.

The third concert in this special event will be presented in collaboration with the Carmelite Community of Balluta on Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m. in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta.

The Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio and the Castell Coch Choral Society will be presenting a programme of sacred music.