Young conductor and composer Christopher Muscat is the focus of the Manoel Theatre concert at Sala Isouard on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The concert features some of Muscat’s most representative chamber works spanning a period of 15 years including two works which will be performed for the first time.
The programme also includes works by Joseph Vella andBéla Bartók and will be performedby pianist Caroline Callejaand the chamber ensemble Promużika.
Muscat’s works have been performed regularly in Malta and in Europe, including the prestigious Philharmonic in Berlin.
Muscat has conducted on numerous special occasions at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral as well as Westminster Cathedral in London.
He is the music director of the Jubilate Deo Choir, teaches music at the University and sacred music at the Archbishop’s Seminary. He is director of artistic operations at the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra as well as co-artistic director of the Malta International Choir Festival and Competition.
Calleja has performed extensively in Malta and abroad in Lyon, Berlin, Leipzig, Wiesbaden, Paris, Helsinki and Corsica.
In 2000, Calleja made her debut as soloist with the National Orchestra of Malta which led to various other invitations performing piano concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Camilleri as well as harp concertos by Mozart and Sain-Saëns.
Her musical education started at the tender age of four and over the years has won several competitions and awards including the Medaille d’Or in piano and Diplôme de Fin d’Etudes with distinction in harp following her studies at the Conservatoire National de Region de Lyon in France.
Calleja is also active in the field of chamber music both as pianist and harpist, and has performed with internationally acclaimed artists.
She has also given various premiere performances of works by contemporary Maltese composers.
Formed in 2004, Promużika Ensemble perform regularly in historic venues and over the years have represented Malta as part of the Europa Musicale festival held in Germany in 2005, performed in Berlin at the Berliner Konzerthaus, in Leipzig at the Gewandhaus and in Wiesbaden at the Kurthaus. They also performed at the Aino Ackte Concert House in Helsinki, Finland.
Individually, each member of the ensemble is active as an orchestral member, a soloist or as a member of other chamber ensembles. The members of this evening’s formation have been working together for over three years, with an eclectic repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the Contemporary.
The concert is part of the Theatre’s Spotlight Series and the programme includes the five pieces by Muscat: Larmes Tristes (piano), Eternal Memories (violin and piano), Clepsydra (string quartet), Dirge (cello and piano), and the premiere of Epitaphium (string quartet) and Quintessence for piano quintet, as well as five Miniatures for Piano Trio Op. 24 by Joseph Vella and Violin Duets by Béla Bartók.
For tickets, visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, call 2124 6389 or e-mail bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt.