While Valletta is basking in the glittering splendour of its fourth International Baroque Festival, it is most opportune to acknowledge the pioneering work of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the complete gentleman who believes in excellence in art, music and other cultural pursuits.

For many years he has nurtured and finally delivered a truly outstanding festival, which also exposes our culturedvisitors to the richness and beauty of our baroque built heritage in Valletta. It is indeed most satisfying that this year, baroque music from the rich and unique musical archives of the Mdina Cathedral, by Bonaventura Rubino (1600-1680), is being included. Last year marked an important high point in the global appreciation and recognition of the unique baroque musical archives of the Mdina Cathedral, particularly 16th, 17th and 18th centuries’ musical scores.

Musicologists from all over the world still come to examine the 13th century rare musical antiphonary in Aquitaine notation which relates to the Anjevin period in Malta.

The Mdina Cathedral Musical Archives hit the European musical headlines with the launching of a CD in Rome from a rare music score preserved at the archives featuring Rubino’s Messa di Morti a Cinque concertata.

The entire Mass from the Mdina archives was also performed recently in Rome by the Cappella Musicale Sta Maria in Campitello, who will be in Malta for the festival.

This Christmas many cathedrals in the US were regaled with selections from 17th century music at the Mdina archives with newspaper headlines such as ‘America Finds Christmas Inspiration in Baroque Malta’. The exquisite beauty and spirituality of Giuseppe Balsano’s Dormi, Dormi O Gran Bambino, performed by the prestigious Rose Ensemble with renowned virtuosi, captivated American audiences.

We wish the Valletta International Baroque Festival every success with the hope that more music from our unique archives will be performed in the future.