The 15th edition of the Din l-Art Ħelwa Bir Miftuh International Music Festival features three concerts which will take place at the medieval church of Santa Marija ta’ Bir Miftuħ in Gudja.
The opening concert takes place on Saturday with the Cosmos Wind Ensemble, made up of Rebecca Hall (Canada) – flute, John McDonough (UK) – oboe, Godfrey Mifsud (Malta) – clarinet, Ulrike Buhlmann (Germany) – bassoon.
The ensemble takes particular interest in working with local composers through the commission and performance of new compositions. Their programme includes works by Rossini, Albert Garza, J. François, Mozart and Mike Curtis.
The second concert on June 11 is a violin and guitar concert by the duo Marco Misciagna on the violin and Vito Villard on the guitar.
Misciagna is professor of viola at the Conservatorio di Stato di Vibo Valentia and also at the Conservatorio Italiano a Parigi. He performs as a soloist with several national and international orchestras.
Vilardi teaches classical guitar at the Accademia Martucci di Bari and at the Associazione Domenico Sarro di Treni. He performs as soloist with several national and international orchestras. In 2008 he played for the Order of the Knights of St John in Valletta.
The duo’s repertoire ranges from Paganini and Giuliani to contemporary composers and during this recital they will play works by Carulli, Giulani and Paganini.
The concert on June 18 will see Jean-Christophe Sampson on flute and Sophie Charpentier on harpsichord play works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Sampson regularly gives concerts of chamber music and poetry in Paris and has founded the Trio Vinteuil. He is currently director of the Festival Mai Musical of Aÿ Champagne near Épernay.
Charpentier conducts choral recitals and is the founder of various vocal ensembles performing in adaptations of operas, polyphonic repertoires and contemporary creations. She is professor at the Conservetoire de Bagnois-sur-Cèze (Gard) and also takes a keen interest in musical theatre, vocal jazz and contemporary opera.
All concerts start at 8 p.m. and tickets are €20 per person including refreshments. Booking is through the offices of Din l-Art Ħelwa at 133, Melita Street, Valletta. For more information call 2122 0358/2122 5952 or e-mail info@dinlarthelwa.org.