The Malta International Organ Festival kicks off today with a concert by the internationally-acclaimed BBC Proms organist and conductor Wayne Marshall together with baritone Joseph Lia.
Marshall travels worldwide as a conductor, virtuoso organist and solo pianist and is a renowned interpreter of Gershwin, Bernstein, Ellington and other 20th century American composers. He is the chief conductor designate of WDR Rundfunkorchester in Cologne and has been the organist-in residence at Bridgewater Hall since its opening in 1996. In 2007, he also became principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.
Lia graduated in music from the University of Malta. Supported by the Janatha Stubbs Foundation, he furthered his vocal training at the famous St Petersburg State Conservatoire under the tuition of Sergei Riazantsev, where he obtained a Master’s in chamber singing, opera singing and voice pedagogy.
He is fast making a name for himself, winning competitions both in Russia and Finland and taking part in opera productions in Italy, Russia and his native Malta. Lia is the artistic director of the festival.
The concert includes pieces by Marshall himself as well as Widor, Roger-Ducasse, Dupré, Wolf, Reger and Liszt.
■ The opening concert is being held tonight at St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta starting at 7.30pm. Tickets for this event are available from www.ticketline.com.mt.
Tomorrow’s concert features Dutch musicians Erwin Wiersinga on the organ and Yfynke Hoogeveen on the clarinet.
Wiersinga is the organist of the Dutch Reform Church in Roden. He teaches organ at the Universität der Künste in Berlin and at the Prins Claus Conservatoire in Groningen. In 2014, he was appointed titular organist of the famous Arp Schnitger organ in Groningen, together with Leo van Doeselaar. Wiersinga has worked with such conductors as Mariss Jansons, Ricardo Chailly and Ivan Fischer, among others.
Hoogeveen began playing the clarinet aged eight. She studied with Reinier Hogerheijde at the Conservatory of Groningen, The Netherlands. Her training as a performing musician took place at the Conservatory of Arnhem where she specialised in chamber music.
For the past 20 years she has been part of the Gaugin ensemble together with pianist Loes van Ras.
The concert includes pieces by Bach, Gluck, Schumann, Mussorgsky, Saint-Saëns, Faure, Gigout and Poulenc.
■ This event is being held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish church in Fontana, Gozo at 7pm. Entrance to this concert is free.
The Malta International Organ Festival runs until December 9 with concerts taking place in various cathedrals, basilicas and churches across the Maltese islands. Full program details can be obtained from www.MaltaInternationalOrganFestival.com. This space will cover the individual concerts on the day.