The first edition of the Valletta International Baroque Festival will see world renowned ensembles head to our shores next month, artistic director Kenneth Zammit Tabona said yesterday.
Mr Zammit Tabona was speaking at a press conference held at the oratory of St John’s Co-Cathedral, under Caravaggio’s towering Beheading of St John.
The festival is a good opportunity and a great challenge for Malta, Mr Zammit Tabona said, given the status of the performers.
“Living in Malta without a baroque festival is like living in an orange grove without eating any oranges,” Mr Zammit Tabona said.
The festival will see some of Europe’s top Baroque interpreters celebrating Valletta’s baroque identity with 15 performances between January 9 and 26, coming to an end with a Grand Ball at the Manoel Theatre.
The festival will be hosted at the President’s Palace, St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Manoel Theatre, the Jesuits’ Church and the Church of all Souls. Performances will be held every evening at 7.30pm, but the 16-day programme includes free events held on two Sundays dedicated to the whole family.
St John’s Co-Cathedral will be hosting one of the main events on January 17 by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the French classic music TV station Mezzo will be travelling to Malta to film the concert.
Throughout the year, the Malta Tourism Authority has financed adverts and promotional spots in Germany, the Netherlands, France, the UK and Italy.
Culture Minister Mario de Marco said he hoped that just like jazz, the baroque festival would become an annual event.
The baroque festival promoted Malta as a “truly cultural destination”, and erved as a build-up to the 2018 European Cultural Capital.
The festival has already caught the eye of the international baroque circles and most performing acts for the festival’s 2014 edition have been confirmed.
Entrance to performances on both Baroque Sundays is free but places should be reserved on bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or 2124 6389.
More information on www.vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt.