The International Spring Orchestra Festival, which began last Friday, continues until Saturday. This year’s edition is commemorating the centenary of one of the most important artistic movements to shape the 20th century – Bauhaus.

Today, Azerbaijani pianist Saida Zulfugarova will perform Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata and the final Op. 111 Sonata, together with Schumann’s Kinderscenen (Childhood scenes) at the Malta Society of Arts, Valletta, Palazzo De la Salle, Republic Street, Valletta, at 8pm.

Tomorrow, baritone Joseph Lia will perform Schubert’s Der Tod und das Mädchen among other highly evocative repertoire at the same venue at 8pm.

On Thursday, the Zürich-based Trio Ameraldi will perform Dimitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 1 and Five pieces for piano trio and Schubert’s Eb Piano Trio at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, at 8pm.

On Friday, the Estonian Sinfonietta – Danse Macabre – will perform Schnittke’s Polka from Dead Souls, Strauss’s Metamorphosen, Sibelius’s Valse triste Op. 44, No. 1 from Kuolema/Death, and Maskats’s Midnight in Riga at the Manoel Theatre at 8pm.

In the closing concert on Saturday at 8pm, Brian Schembri will conduct the Estonian Sinfonietta. 

In the first half of the programme, Schembri will be joined by pianists Charlene Farrugia performing Hindemith’s Kammermusik No.1 and Lucia Micallef performing Poulenc’s Aubade (piano concerto).

In the second half, French mezzo soprano Brigitte Peyré will world-premiere Fiorini’s Quatre miniatures (Four miniatures) based on the text of the French poet Sophie Charpentier and Malta-premiere Mahler’s ‘provocation to Providence’ Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the death of Children).

In addition the concerts at the Manoel Theatre will open by the 12-year-old piano prodigy Daphne Delicata, the first Maltese to be admitted to the Menuhin School of Music, UK.

For further details visit www.iso-festival.com and for tickets, visit www.kultura.mt or www.teatrumanoel.com.

Brian Schembri and Daphne Delicata