Thirty different concerts and events will be performed over a five-week period of uninterrupted cultural and artistic activity at the Victoria International Arts Festival.

Opening on Wednesday, 180 works by 104 different composers will be performed throughout the festival.

There will be quartets, trios, duos, ensembles, choirs, big bands and a drama evening.

The festival will be concluded with a final concert, which sees the participation of soprano Miriam Cauchi, cellist Simon Abdilla Joslin, the Laudate Pueri Choir (resident choir at St George’s Basilica), The Girls and Men of Rochester Cathedral and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Joseph Vella.

The festival opens with a concert that sees the inauguration of the newly-acquired 1785 Antunes harpsichord beautifully restored by Colin Booth.

The work, which was funded by Eco Gozo, included restoration, conservation and upgrading of two historic pipe organs housed within the St George’s Basilica complex, the setting up of a state-of-the-art interactive website and the purchase of this rare harpsichord.

The project also entails the organisation of master classes in various disciplines (10 courses will be given this year).

All festival events are free. The festival ends on July 11.

To view the full programme visit www.stgeorge.org.mt/page.asp?id=16.