Din l-Art Ħelwa’s ‘Bir Miftuħ International Music Festival’ has long been an anticipated feature in Malta’s cultural calendar, with its dual emphasis on highlighting a gem of Maltese medieval architecture, and the best in local and foreign musical talent.
The (Kalypso Ensemble) have fast proved themselves key musicians in Malta Culture and entertainment
The festival’s 16th edition opened with a string recital by the Kalypso Ensemble, supported by the Italian Embassy and Italian Cultural Institute, playing a selection of classical fare inside the Santa Marija of Bir Miftuħ chapel.
The musicians include violinists Klara Nazaj and Giulia Travano, with Ina Giorgieva on viola. Violoncello was played by Rahia Angela Awalom, and double bass by Donata Paduano.
The ensemble have fast proved themselves key musicians in Malta, a chamber group who have played internationally and are all current members of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
Known for their versatility and adaptable repertoire, they began the festival with some relativelyprosaic pieces – however, the quality of their performance more than made up for the selections.
The evening was topped and tailed by Rossini. It was lovely to hear them play Haydn’s Sunrise Quartet, with its pensive beginning and quick, lively follow-up – a pleasant movement between changing themes and a challenging piece for violins, which showcased Nazaj and Travano’s skills.
The festival also featured follow-up events, with a classical guitar recital by Ulrich Rasche. Noted for his proficiency in playing baroque music, Rasche is a musicologist and teacher whose solo concerts across Europe have won him considerable acclaim.
It was especially enjoyable to visit Bir Miftuħ and spend some time in the chapel. Thanks to Din l-Art Ħelwa, the 15th century chapel has been magnificently restored.
With eyes wandering around the chapel interior, there’s plenty to see – partially preserved frescoes in ochre and blue, the strange division of spaces, a titular painting embedded within a stone frame inthe wall itself, odd little doorways and impressiveceiling arches.
The frescoes depict fragments of a Last Judgement scene, divided into tiers of figures. A winsome woman, in fashionable 1600s attire, holds a lily in one hand and gestures towards the titular painting with the other.
After sustaining damage during the Second World War, the chapel became a trust of Din l-Art Ħelwa in 1970 and work began almost immediately. The forecourt and interior paving slabs were replaced in 2004, using locally sourced limestone, finally completing the chapel renovation.
Unfortunately, the place is only open forservices on the first Sunday of every month for amere two-and-a half hours – I wonder why that might be, considering the work that has gone intoits restoration.
Surely if it functioned more regularly, it would benefit from a deeper sense of life than just the occasional concert. And there is plenty of merit here, in the beautiful countryside (albeit a stone’s throw from the airport) – a real treasure of Maltese architecture, that deserves the excellent treatment it has enjoyed thanks to Din l-Art Ħelwa’s continued efforts.
I look forward to more concerts at Bir Miftuħ.