It all started in 1998 when a dedicated team of people who live for music got together and put on the first Victoria International Arts Festival (VIAF).

This grew beyond even the expectations of the founders, who are still busy working hard year after year and are now bringing the festival to its 18th edition.

I met up with composer and conductor Joseph Vella, who is also the VIAF’s artistic director.

“The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will feature in the opening and concluding concerts. The opening concert will include Hindemith’s Mathis der Maler, a work so far only directed by me in these islands, its local premiere having been at the Manoel some years ago.

“There will also be the world premiere of a cycle of five songs I have composed to lyrics by the late Alistair Chalmers.”

Titled Dust on the Path, these songs will be sung by soprano Miriam Cauchi.

“The closing concert for this festival, on the other hand, will this year see the Malta premiere of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, which only he has so far directed in these islands.

“The Laudate Pueri Choir will be taking part in these two striking works. An added delight will be Andrea Gajic taking the solo part in the violin concerto by Sibelius. The list of activities in between these two events is impressive.

The list of activities is impressive

“We have 35 artistic events which involve over 400 performers, among whom are some world-class musicians from 18 countries from a number of continents. There are over 240 works by 136 composers in genres which range from medieval to the present day.

“We have solos, duos, trios, quartets, quintets, 23 chamber ensembles, three choirs and a big band. There is something for everybody,” Vella says.

Nine of the works on the programme have been composed by Vella and these include two more world premieres and two Malta premieres. There are also eight more world premieres which were specifically commissioned for the VIAF.

“We keep in mind that some genres are very dear to the music-loving public, so we will be presenting four concerts of baroque music on period instruments.

“The VIAF also provides opportunities for the development of our musicians, especially the younger ones. Master classes will be provided in piano, violin, woodwind and brass.”

As usual, the festival events will be held in seven different venues in Victoria, including the Basilica of St George, the Aula Mgr J Farrugia and the lovely roof-top venue at Il-Ħaġar Heart of Gozo museum.

As of this year, the VIAF has been awarded the Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe label, an endorsement that the festival stands for “artistic quality and has a significant impact on the local, national and international level”.

The VIAF takes place between June 10 and July 13. Attendance is free.

www.viaf.org.mt