Żabbar parish church. Photo: Raymond GialanzeThe Manoel Theatre has this festive season combined one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Malta with one of Europe’s leading ensembles to present a Baroque Christmas Concert at Our Lady of Graces Sanctuary, Żabbar, on Saturday.
The event will present a unique programme of French sacred music of the 17th century, focusing on works by Charpentier written for Christmas. These will be performed by Ensemble Correspondances, conducted by the renowned French conductor and musicologist Sébastien Daucé.
Ensemble Correspondances have recently won the Grand Prix 2014 de la Musique Classique, one of the most prestigious awards in the classic music industry, for their latest album Melanges pour la Chapelle d’un Prince.
The full programme includes traditional Christmas songs of the era as well as pieces by Bouzignac, Boesset, Charpentier and Moulinié.
Ensemble Correspondances is formed from alumni of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, one of the leading music academies in the world. Malta is one of their stops on a tour which includes some of the major concert venues in Europe.
“This event is part of Manoel Theatre’s plan to reach out by presenting music in notable settings in different localities all over the islands. The intention is to offer the opportunity to everyone who loves music to experience it in our architecturally and artistically-rich venues,” said Ray Attard, the Manoel’s CEO.
• The concert starts at 8pm. Tickets may be obtained by phone on 2124 6389, e-mail bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.