Undoubtedly, one of the largest events during this time of the year for lovers of art and classical music is the Malta International Organ Festival.
This year, the festival kicked off on November 22 and runs till December 6, offering a total of 15 concerts by world-renowned musicians in the beautiful cathedrals, basilicas and churches that showcase some of the Maltese Islands’ most stunning architectural and artistic heritage.
The festival has built a well-deserved reputation for showcasing world-renowned, top-notch international and local musicians, performing some of the greatest music written for the organ.
This year, the festival reaches its sixth edition, an occasion that is being marked with an eclectic programme featuring the organ as a solo instrument, as an accompanist for voice and other instruments, and as part of an ensemble.
In the minds of many, our cultural heritage is often associated limited to museums and archaeological sites, but Malta possesses a much more extensive patrimony of heritage assets – including music and our beloved churches and cathedrals.
It was with the arrival of the Knights of St John and the lifting of the Great Siege of 1565, that the building of modern Malta commenced, and the archipelago’s landscape was transformed beyond configurations that had changed very little since prehistoric times.
Fortifications, wonderful palaces and a network of small cities, towns, and villages emerged, where at the heart of each was a church.
These small cities, towns, and villages today form the historic centre of our archipelago’s urban landscape, and many are also the venues for the Malta International Organ Festival.
The arts have always played a large role in Maltese culture, and the high calibre programme that has been put together is a testament to the event’s international status. It is no wonder that the Festival has now become a regular part of the Malta cultural calendar.
The programme kicked off with a grand concert featuring one of Sicily’s best brass ensembles formed from brass players of the Teatro Massimo of Catania, under the direction of Simone Valeri with Marco D’Avola on the organ at the St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta.
For the full programme, click here.