Recital
Marcelline Agius, violin; Joanne Camilleri, piano
Sala Isouard

Marcelline Agius needs no introduction, neither as soloist nor as an ensemble performer. She is also leader of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Her commitments there certainly keep her very busy, thus making the hard work and preparation necessary for the high-evel sort of recital under review here even more difficult.

Yet she did deliver, and this was evident throughout the performance which grew increasingly intense. Her partnership with pianist Joanne Camilleri was very fruitful.

Camilleri is one of the best pianists around and she was complementary in every way to Agius.

One could sense how different temperaments could blend so well in their joint music-making, building this not only as an admirable fusion of instrumental texture but also a solid and understanding rapport which could only produce excellent results.

The duo launched into an unusual work by Joseph Vella, the Rapsodija Maltija Opus 26. It is unusual because it is virtually this composer’s only work which draws directly upon the very sparse supply of traditional Maltese folk melodies.

Yet this is not a simple kind of exercise being as it is, marked by the composer’s own stamp, with the two performers sometimes steering along a not always easy path where a polyrhythmic structure and unusual harmonies are paramount.

Vella’s work was followed by another Maltese composition, Christopher Muscat’s Eternal Memories. The sad, melancholic streak of the opening prologue was well-projected and naturally was in great contrast to the faster, energetic section of the first movement.

The middle section conveyed a sense of ethereal eeriness with the two instruments reflecting in their well-blended texture the prevailing calm and mournful atmosphere.

The final movement was marked by an energetic fervour and a rebelliously questioning aura which demands an answer. But it was denied because of the work’s abrupt and indeterminate conclusion.