To be classified with musical giants the likes of Vivaldi, Mozart and Marcello in the realm of mandolin concertos is no mean achievement.

I was thrilled to discover, thanks to Charles Xuereb’s groundbreaking programme Bil-Qala u l-Moqdief on Campus FM, the works of Giuseppe Frendo (1810-1884) whose mandolin concerto L’Etoile de Bonheur composed in Malta in c. 1860 is listed with the oeuvres of great composers of this genre.

Fortunately, his compositions are now being played in the greatest music halls in Europe, especially those in Germany.

Frendo hails from a musical family that has contributed substantially to the Maltese classical music scene, particularly in his native city of Vittoriosa, and to the history of the national anthem. He deserves to be better known and appreciated.

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