With a kick-off tonight at St. Paul's Metropolital Cathedral in Mdina, the Malta International Organ Festival is a week-long event that shouldn't be missed.
Michelle Scotto met with artistic director, Joseph Lia, and soprano Olga Makarina, to find out more about the festival.
Concert list:
20th November
Toccate, Canzoni & Dances
Adriano Morea (Italy) - Organ
St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina - 20.30
in collaboration with the Mdina Biennale
21st November
Organ Inauguration & Double Organ Concert
Andres Uibo (Estonia) - Organ, Denis Kasparovitch (Estonia) - Organ, Joseph Lia - Baritone (Malta), Mari-Liis Uibo - Violin (Estonia) & Aare Tammesalu - Cello (Estonia)
St. Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara - 19.00
23rd November
Organ & Cello Concert
Denis Kasparovitch (Estonia) - Organ & Aare Tammesalu (Estonia) - Cello
Our Lady of Victories Parish Church, Naxxar - 19.00
26th November
Solo Organ Recital
Joe Caruana (Malta) - Organ
St Gregory Parish Church, Sliema - 19.15
27th November
Improvisations on Maltese Themes
John Aquilina (Malta) - Organ
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta - 19.00
29th November
Solo Organ Recital
Erwin Wiersinga (Netherlands) - Organ
St. Augustine Church, Valletta - 20.00
3rd December
Organ, Voice and Clarinet - Works by Mozart, Haydn, Handel, Rossini and Russian Composers
Daniel Zaretskiy (Russia) - Organ, Maria Lyudko (Russia) - Soprano & Georges Devdariani (Netherlands) - Clarinet
St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta - 19.30 (Price 15 Euros)
4th December
Solo Organ Recital
Evgenia Krivitskaya (Russia) - Organ
Santa Maria Assunta Parish Church, Għaxaq - 19.00
6th December
Solo Organ Recital
Simone Vebber (Italy) - Organ
Robert Sammut Hall, Floriana - 19.30
7th December
Grand Finale - Solo Organ Works, Organ & Voice, & C.P.E. Bach's Organ Concerto in G Major
Diego Cannizzaro (Sicily) - Organ, Joseph Lia - baritone (Malta), James Ham - Conductor (UK) & the Valletta Chamber Orchestra
St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta - 19.30 (Price 15 Euros)
GOZO
22nd November
Organ & Violin Concert
Andres Uibo (Estonia) - Organ & Mari-Liis Uibo (Estonia) - Violin
Our Lady of Victories Parish Church, Xagħra- 18.00
25th November
Solo Organ Recital
Denis Kasparovitch (Estonia) - Organ
St. Augustine Church, Victoria - 19.30
28th November
Bach's Baroque Masterpieces
Andres Uibo (Estonia) - Organ, Joseph Lia - Baritone (Malta), Mari-Liis Uibo - Violin (Estonia) & Aare Tammesalu - Cello (Estonia)
St. Margaret parish Church, Ta'Sannat - 19.00
02nd December
Organ & Trumpet Concert
Ciricino Micheletto (Italy) - Organ & Roberto Rigo (Italy) - Trumpet
St. Margaret Parish Church, Ta'Sannat- 19.00
05th December
Gala Organ Concert - Solo Organ Works, Voice & Organ, & Haydn's Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo
Vladimir Suzdalevich (Norway) - Organ , Anastasia Bogacheva (Russia) - Alto, John Galea (Gozo) - Conductor with Chorus Urbanus
St. Margaret Parish Church, Ta'Sannat- 19.00
Buy your tickets online on www.ticketline.com.mt
For more information: info@MaltaInternationalOrganFestival.com