A mini-festival which will begin on Friday and run until November looks set to be music to classical music buffs' ears.
The MUSIC+ event is being organised by the non-profit Classique Foundation and will feature recitals by local and international artists, , master classes in different instruments, workshops for Primary school students, talks and a conference.
Events will kick off on Friday September 28 with a recital by Edlira Shkurti (violin) and Erga Halilaj (piano) from Albania. Shkurti is a member of the RTSH Orchestra of Tirana, Albania whereas Halilaj, apart from being a member of the RTSH Orchestra, is also a visiting professor at the University of Arts of Tirana. This is followed by three other recitals: one on 29th September 2018 featuring up-and-coming Gozitan pianist Francis James Camilleri; another one on 30th September 2018 featuring Laura Magistrelli (clarinet) and Marina Degl’Innocenti (piano) from Italy – Magistrelli is professor of clarinet at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi of Milan; and the last one on 28th October 2018 featuring trumpeter Brendan Ball, trumpet player with the Malta Philharmonic, and pianist Elaine Mercieca. During the latter Ball and Mercieca will give the world premiere of Alan Cassar’s Deconstructed Images.
Apart from some of the well-known classics, all these concerts will feature music by Maltese composers. These concerts will be held at the Gozo Ministry’s exhibition hall and will start at 7.30pm.
On the morning of Saturday September 29, Laura Magistrelli, Edlira Shkurti and Erga Halilaj will give master classes in clarinet, violin, and piano respectively at the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School in Xewkija.
Workshops intended for selected primary school children will be led by Sarah Spiteri on October 4.
On October 5, Abraham Borg will deliver a talk on opera in Malta at the Gozo Ministry. The talk will begin at 7.30pm.
MUSIC+ will end with a conference titled The Future of Opera in the Maltese Islands. Representatives from all opera houses will discuss the topic, with Paul Xuereb moderating and Cecilia Xuereb and internationally renowned soprano Miriam Gauci taking part.
The conference will be held on November 9 at the Circolo Gozitano in Victoria at 7.30pm.
Joseph Debrincat is the Artistic Director of MUSIC+. All events are free of charge.
MUSIC+ has been supported by the Ministry for Gozo NGO Assistance Scheme, a funding programme for voluntary organisations in Gozo.
For more details and queries email musicplusgozo@gmail.com or call 7970 3288 / 9948 7341