The Kalypso String Chamber Orchestra.

The final concert of the Malta International Organ Festival was given in St John’s Co-cathedral, Valletta.

The recital was given by Estonian organist Andres Uibo. Not only did this concert include works for solo organ, but the organ also formed part of a continuo for orchestral works.

These were performed by the Kalypso String Chamber Orchestra, comprising members of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concert opened with Uibo performing Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on St John’s magnificent organ.

The organ was joined by the Kalypso String Chamber Orchestra, directed by the immaculately-dressed Russian conductor Dmitry Banaev in the performance of three organ church sonatas by Mozart.

Mozart wrote 17 church sonatas (sonata di chiesa), also known as epistle sonatas, between 1772 and 1780.

These are short single-movement pieces intended to be played during a celebration of the Mass between the Epistle and the Gospel. They are scored for string orchestra with organ obbligato.

Uibo’s own beautiful setting of the Ave Maria for voice, orchestra and organ was sung by Joseph Lia. Lia’s rich baritone voice worked well in this wonderful setting.

Following this was the first movement of Uibo’s Apocalypsis Symphony.

This work is a very interesting programmatic piece in five movements. Each movement is based upon a scriptural passage from the Book of Revelation of St John.

Although they give context to the music, these movements also can stand alone as interesting, contemplative organ pieces in modern style. As was the case with the piece played that night.

The first movement, “Then I Saw begins quietly with note clusters that continue throughout the movement.

The orchestra was joined by Uibo’s daughter, violinist Mari-Liis, who performed the Concerto in A minor (BWV1041) for violin and orchestra.

The playing was fluent and full of emotion, both marvellous to hear and to watch being performed

A wonderful performance by this talented young violinist, especially in the moving Andante. The playing was fluent and full of emotion, both marvellous to hear and to watch being performed.

The final piece of the programme was the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 582), performed on the organ by Uibo.

The audience was once again treated to the magnificent playing of Mari-Liis in another work of her father’s, Bach in the Mirror. The work scored for organ and violin is both a meditative and an expressive homage to Johann Sebastian Bach. The cadenza, or free improvisation opening the final third of the piece, is reminiscent of solo partitas and suites in the style of Bach’s time.

The cadenza, played by Mari–Liis, was based upon the Chaconne from the D Minor Partita for solo violin.

The concert was the culmination of two weeks of superb concerts performed on some of the finest organs in Malta and Gozo by international organists.

The Malta International Organ Festival was, considering it only being in its first year, a resounding success, due also to the foresight and energetic work put in by Lia, the festival’s artistic director.

It is sincerely hoped that this will become an annual event. The proceeds from voluntary collections taken during these concerts were in aid of the Nazareth Foundation, an organisation for people with special needs. The organisation provides home for those who have no family or who cannot live with their family.