Eighteen concerts and two master classes by world renowned professors are being held as part of the Malta International Organ Festival, which is in its fourth year running.
The festival, that’s being held between November 21 and December 7, includes14 concerts in Malta, four in Gozo.
Star guest performers include organist Julian Mallek from Germany, who will be collaborating with Semjon Kalinowsky on the viola to offer a varied programme using a combination of the two instruments, playing works by Bach, Marcello, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn and Eccles at the St Francis of Assisi Church in Valletta on November 21.
Festival organiser and artistic director Joseph Lia said that some of the world’s most prominent international organists will be performing during the festival, such as Andres Uibo, Marco D’Avola, Giuliana Maccaroni, Diego Cannizzaro, David Davies and Wayne Marshall.
The festival will also serve as a platform to younger artists who have recently won international competitions like Zita Nautaryill, and to Maltese organists, offering them both a prestigious performing platform and also free master classes to improve their technique.
Dr Lia added that this year, during one of the events, Wayne Marshall will be improvising music to the 1922 silent film – Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror.
This concert will be the first of its kind in Malta, as while showing F.W. Murnau’s German impressionist film, Wayne Marshall will improvise on the organ at the Anglican Cathedral in Valletta to create a symphony of horror using clashing harmonies and combining several registers to create a musical dramatic effect to complement the film.
Another highlight will be an organ and voice recital by Maltese organist Hugo Agius Muscat and baritone Joseph Lia, to inaugurate the restoration of an 18th century positive organ that was found recently, after being lost for several years.
Another interesting concert will be a Sunday teatime concert for four hands and four feet, featuring Italian Belcanto opera melodies played by two organists from Rossini’s city – Pesaro.
The concerts being held in Balluta, Siġġiewi, St Julian’s, Balzan, Birkirkara, Mosta, Xewkija, Citadella and Fontana will include the participation of several musicians, singers and choirs, and will be combining local and foreign talent, showcasing Maltese heritage and the power of the organ used as a solo instrument, as an accompanist, and as part of an ensemble.
The festival will reach a climax with its final concert on December 7 at the St Augustine parish church in Valletta, featuring works for organ solo and organ and orchestra.
The Valletta Chamber Orchestra, which has now become the resident orchestra of this festival, will be conducted by Italian conductor Riccardo Bianchi. This concert will feature solo organ works by Bach, Telemann’s Trumpet Concerto in D, Handel’s Organ Concerto in A, and Mozart’s Church Sonatas.
Following is the programme in full
November 21
Opening Concert - Organ & Viola
Julian Mallek (Germany) - Organ & Semjon Kalinowsky (Germany) - Viola
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Valletta - 7.30pm
November 22
Organ & Voice
Mark Vassallo (Malta) - Organ & Dominika Zamara (Poland) - Soprano
St. Nicholas Parish Church, Siġġiewi - 7.15pm
November 23
Solo Organ Concert
Erwin Wiersinga (Netherlands) - Organ
St. Julian's Parish Church, St. Julian's - 7.15pm
November 24
Solo Organ Concert
David Davies (UK) - Organ
St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Xewkija, Gozo - 7pm
November 25
Organ & Flute Recital
Zita Nauratyill (Hungary) - Organ & Luca Magni (Italy) - Flute
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta - 7.30pm
November 26
Organ & Choir Concert
Gaulitanus Choir (Gozo) - Colin Attard (Gozo) - Conductor, accompanied by Stephen Attard (Gozo) - Organ
St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Xewkija, Gozo - 7.30pm
November 27
Ortygia, Strada Stretta, Valletta - as part of Valletta 2018 Strada Stretta Concept –
Bach's Chorale Preludes
Franco Cefai (Gozo) - Organ
Strait Street, Valletta - 8.30pm
November 28
Organ, Voice & Cello - Dvorak's Biblical Songs
Andres Uibo (Estonia) - Organ, Aare Tammessalu (Estonia) - Cello &
Ka Bo Chan (Hong Kong) - Countertenor
Gozo Cathedral, Cittadella, Victoria, Gozo - 7pm
November 29
Solo Organ Concert
Taras Baginets (Russia) - Organ
St. Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara - 7.15pm
November 30
Chamber Music Concert
Andres Uibo (Estonia) - Organ, Aare Tammessalu (Estonia) - Cello &
Ka Bo Chan (Hong Kong) - Coutertenor
St. Paul's Chapel, Birkirkara - 8pm
December 1
Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror - Organ Improvisations over the 1922 Silent Horror Film by F.W. Murnau
Wayne Marshall (UK) - Organ
St.Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta - 7.30pm
December 2
Solo Organ Concert - The French Legacy
Maurice Clerc (France) - Organ
St. Augustine Parish Church , Valletta - 8pm
December 3
All'Opera on 4 hands (and feet) - Teatime Concert
Giuliana Maccaroni (Italy) & Martino Pòrcile (Italy) - Organ
St.Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta - 5pm
December 3
Solo Organ Concert
Diego Cannizzaro (Sicily) - Organ
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church, Fontana, Gozo - 7pm
December 4
Solo Organ Concert - XIX Century Italy
Diego Cannizzaro (Sicily) - Organ
St Mary's Parish Church (Rotunda), Mosta - 7.15pm (Free)
December 5
Launch of the newly restored 18th Century Positivo Organ - Organ & Voice Recital
Hugo Agius Muscat (Malta) - Organ & Joseph Lia (Malta) - Baritone
Our Lady of Victories Church, Valletta - 7pm
December 6
Totally Baroque
Daniel Zaretsky (Russia) - Organ
Annunciation Parish Church, Balzan - 7.15pm
December 7
Grand Finale - Organ & Orchestra
Marco d'Avola (Sicily) - Organ, Riccardo Bianchi (Italy) - Conductor & the Valletta Chamber Orchestra
St. Augustine Parish Church, Valletta - 8pm