Il-Ministru għall-Wirt Nazzjonali, l-Arti u l-Gvern Lokali Owen Bonnici ħabbar id-dettalji għat-13-il edizzjoni tal-Valletta Baroque Festival, li se jsir bejn id-9 u l-25 ta ’Jannar 2025.
Waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet fis-Sala Isouard fi ħdan it-Teatru Manoel, il-Ministru Bonnici stqarr li l-Valletta Baroque Festival għandu importanza kbira għall-pajjiż, kemm għax jgħin biex jippreserva u jippromwovi l-wirt kulturali u artistiku Malti, kif ukoll għax iġib flimkien artisti ta’ kalibru internazzjonali li jesibixxu l-aqwa talent tagħhom f’Malta. Huwa enfasizza li dan il-festival jagħti ħajja ġdida lil bosta siti storiċi Maltin, u jinħoloq ambjent fejn il-mużika u l-arkitettura jingħaqdu biex joffru esperjenza kulturali unika għall-udjenzi lokali u barranin.
Il-Ministru Bonnici żied jgħid li Festivals Malta, permezz ta’ dan il-festival, qed tirnexxi mhux biss fil-qasam kulturali iżda wkoll ekonomikament, billi tattira turisti lejn Malta f’dan l-istaġun tas-sena. "Il-Valletta Baroque Festival huwa pass importanti għalina biex inkomplu nsaħħu r-rikonoxximent internazzjonali ta’ Malta bħala destinazzjoni ta’ kultura u arti ta’ kwalità," qal il-Ministru Bonnici, waqt li faħħar lill-ħaddiema ta’ Festivals Malta għall-impenn tagħhom fit-tħejjijiet għal din l-edizzjoni.
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Il-Valletta Baroque Festival huwa festival uniku li jiċċelebra l-mużika f’postijiet storiċi. “Bħala aġenżija Festivals Malta hija mpenjata bi sħiħ biex tippromwovi l-wirt kulturali tagħna, filwaqt li tipprovdi pjattaforma għall-artisti lokali u internazzjonali. Il-Valletta Baroque Festival huwa eżempju perfett ta’ dan l-impenn, li jippermettilna nuru mhux biss it-talent tal-mużiċisti, iżda wkoll postijiet mill-isbaħ li huma parti integrali mill-wirt tagħna”, qal Aaron Zahra, iċ-Chairman ta’ Festivals Malta.
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Frans Agius, il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Festivals Malta, irrimarka li “Dan il-festival huwa xhieda tal-impenn tagħna biex insaħħu kemm it-talent lokali kif ukoll dak internazzjonali. Kburin li naraw artisti Maltin fuq il-palk prinċipali ta’ festivals internazzjonali bħalma huwa l-Valletta Baroque Festival. Din is-sena se naraw il-vjolinist Malti Carmine Lauri flimkien mal-Malta Philharmonic Orchestra taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Michael Laus, bis-sehem ukoll ta’ Charlie Siem, l-Abos Project & Consort taħt id-direzzjoni tal-ispeċjalista tal-mużika Barokka mill-Brażil Bruno Brocorpio, u l-Valletta Baroque Ensemble taħt id-direzzjoni ta’ Steven Devine”.
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Taħt id-direzzjoni artistika ta’ Kenneth Zammit Tabona, il-festival ta’ din is-sena se jkollu firxa spettakolari ta’ preżentazzjonjiet minn artisti u ensembles distinti f’uħud mill-postijiet l-aktar majestużi ta’ Malta. Zammit Tabona qal li "s-sena 2025 timmarka t-triċentinarju tal-mewt ta’ Alessandro Scarlatti u għalhekk il-festival se jiftaħ bl-oratorju tiegħu La Giuditta, li tonora l-istorja taż-żmien l-eroj bibbliku Ġuditta li assassinat lil Holofernes li ġiet immortalizzata fl-arti minn Caravaggio, Gentileschi u Boulogne biex insemmu biss tlett artisti." L-għada, l-udjenzi jistgħu jgawdu Lachrimae Lyrae, ippreżentat minn Sokratis Sinopoulos fuq il-Lira Grieka u L’Achéron fil-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija.
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Il-programm jinkludi wkoll Thomas Dunford u Théotime Langlois de Swartese The Mad Lover u SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet li se jippreżentaw il-mużika tal-Amerika t’Isfel bil-Bachianas. Hemm ukoll kunċert vokali bit-titlu My Voyage to Italy minn Samuel Mariño ma’ Concerto de’ Cavalieri.
Permezz ta’ din il-festival l-udjenzi jistgħu jgawdu minn firxa ta’ stili u gruppi mużikali bħal Musica Antiqua Latina bil-Combattimento 400, u x-xogħlijiet ta’ Monteverdi mdaqqa minn Voces Sauve. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra se tippreżenta wkoll Bach Violin Concertos b’solisti ta’ fama internazzjonali Charlie Siem u Carmine Lauri. Kunċert speċjali f’din l-edizzjoni se jkun qed jiċċelebra l-għeluq it-80 sena ta’ William Christie ma’ Les Arts Florissants fl-24 ta’ Jannar, li jiċċelebra wieħed mill-aktar figuri influwenti tax-xena tal-mużika barokka.
Minbarra hekk il-festival se jospita interpretazzjoni minn KorMalta ta’ Missa Papae Marcelli ta’ Palestrina f’ġieħ il-500 sena anniversarju tal-mewt tiegħu. It-tfal jistgħu jgawdu l-kunċert bl-isem Sound Explorers fid-19 ta’ Jannar, li se jintroduċi l-ġenerazzjoni li jmiss għall-ġmiel tal-mużika barokka. Il-festival se jsir madwar diversi postijiet storiċi, fosthom il-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ġwann, il-Knisja ta’ Lapsi, u l-Palazz tal-Verdala. Kull post jipprovdi sfond mannifiku, li jsaħħaħ l-esperjenza tal-udjenzi u jgħaqqadhom mal-wirt kulturali għani ta’ Malta. Zammit Tabona temm jgħid, “Huwa għalhekk li aħna ffortunati biżżejjed li ta’ kuljum għandna madwarna sfond daqshekk inimitabbli li mill-bidu nett ta livell ta’ eċċellenza lil festival u b’hekk sar magħruf fost l-aqwa għaxar festivals fl-Ewropa”.
Il-Valletta Baroque Festival se jsir bejn id-9 u l-25 ta ’Jannar 2025 u huwa organizzat minn Festivals Malta b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ Teatru Manoel, u appoġġjat minn Visit Malta u l-Ministeru għall-Wirt Nazzjonali, l-Arti u l-Gvern Lokali (Kultura).
Għal aktar informazzjoni, żur is-sit www.vbf.mt.
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Festivals Malta launches the 13th edition of the Valletta Baroque Festival
The Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced details for the 13th edition of the Valletta Baroque Festival, which will take place between 9 and 25 January 2025.
During a press conference at the Isouard Hall within Teatru Manoel, Minister Bonnici stated that the Valletta Baroque Festival has great importance for the country, both because it helps preserve and promote the Maltese cultural and artistic heritage, and also because it brings together artists of international calibre who exhibit their best talent in Malta. He emphasised that this festival gives a new life to numerous Maltese historical sites, creating an environment where music and architecture are combined, offering a unique cultural experience for local and foreign audiences.
Minister Bonnici added that Festivals Malta, through this festival, is succeeding not only in the cultural sector but also economically, by attracting tourists to Malta during this season of the year. “The Valletta Baroque Festival is an important step for us to further strengthen Malta's international recognition as a destination of culture and arts of high calibre,” he said, while praising Festivals Malta staff for their commitment in the preparations for this edition.
The Valletta Baroque Festival is a unique festival celebrating music in historic places. “As an agency Festivals Malta is fully committed to promote our cultural heritage, while providing a platform for local and international artists. The Valletta Baroque Festival is a perfect example of this commitment, allowing us to showcase not only the talent of musicians, but also wonderful venues that are an integral part of our heritage”, said Aaron Zahra, Chairman of Festivals Malta.
The Valletta Baroque Festival is an important festival that celebrates music in historical venues. "As an agency, Festivals Malta is fully committed to promoting our cultural heritage, while providing a platform for local and international artists. The Valletta Baroque Festival is a perfect example of this mission, which allows us to show not only the musicians’ artistry, but also beautiful venues that are an integral part of our heritage", stated Aaron Zahra, Festivals Malta Chairman.
Frans Agius, Festivals Malta CEO, remarked that “this festival is testament to our commitment to strengthen both local and international talent. We are proud to see Maltese artists on the main stage of international festivals such as the Valletta Baroque Festival. This year in the festival we will see Maltese violinist Carmine Lauri together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the musical direction of Michael Laus, with the participation of Charlie Siem, the Abos Project & Consort under the direction of Baroque music specialist from Brazil Bruno Brocorpio, and the Valletta Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Steven Devine”.
Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, this year's festival will feature a stellar lineup of performances from distinguished artists and ensembles in some of Malta's most opulent venues. Zammit Tabona said that “2025 marks the tricentenary of the death of Alessandro Scarlatti and therefore the festival opens with a performance of his oratorio La Giuditta, the time honoured story of the biblical heroine Judith assassinating Holofernes immortalised in art by Caravaggio, Gentileschi and Boulogne to mention just three artists.” The following day, audiences can immerse themselves in the captivating Lachrimae Lyrae, presented by Sokratis Sinopoulos on Greek lyra and L’Achéron at the National Museum of Archaeology.
Other highlights include Thomas Dunford and Théotime Langlois de Swarte showcasing The Mad Lover, SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet showcasing South American music with the Bachianas, and a vocal concert titled My Voyage to Italy featuring Samuel Mariño with Concerto de' Cavalieri.
As the festival progresses, audiences will enjoy an array of musical styles and ensembles, such as Musica Antiqua Latina with Combattimento 400, and Monteverdi’s works performed by Voces Sauve. A special highlight will be William Christie’s 80th Birthday Concert with Les Arts Florissants on January 24, celebrating one of the baroque music scene's most influential figures.
The festival will also host unique interpretations of Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina in honour of its 500th anniversary performed by Malta’s National choir, KorMalta. Children can enjoy The Sound Explorers concert on January 19, introducing the next generation to the joys of baroque music.
The festival will take place across various historic venues, including the magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral, the intimate Lapsi Church, and the enchanting Verdala Palace. Each location provides a stunning backdrop, enhancing the listening experience and connecting audiences with Malta's rich cultural heritage. Zammit Tabona concluded by saying, “That is what we are fortunate enough to have surrounding us every day of our lives and provides such an inimitable backdrop to a festival which practically from its inception has become a byword in excellence and which has been placed among the top ten festivals in Europe”.
The Valletta Baroque Festival is taking place between the 9th and 25th January 2025 and is organised by Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, and supported by Visit Malta and the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts & Local Government (Kultura).
For more information, visit www.vbf.mt.
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