Valletta Baroque Festival Podcast

Meret Lüthi and Les Passions de L'Ame (https://lespassions.ch/) brought the Valletta Baroque Festival to a scintillating conclusion with Bach's Six Brandenburg Concertos at the Manoel Theatre on 26 January 2019. A night to be remembered! #vbf19 #earlymusic

On 26 January 2019 Paul Gulda and Marwan Abado proved the audience without a doubt that music creates strong bonds. 'The Path of Love' offered a convincing space where the oriental meets the occidental, and where Bach's Well-tempered Clavier fuses with Arabic poetry. #vbf19

On 25 January 2019 Paul Gulda worked his way elegantly throughout Book 1 of Bach's The Well-tempered Clavier at the Grand Salon in Valletta. In between this 'tour de force' he stimulated the audience with philosophical quotes and aphorisms. #vbf19 #earlymusic

Cantar Lontano, directed by Marc Mencoboni and enriched by Maltese vocalists of The Monteverdi Project, created magical moments at the Parish Church in Qrendi on 25 January 2019. A standing ovation followed their wonderful performance Monteverdi's Missa in Illo Tempore. #vbf19 #earlymusic

'Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno' was indeed a great triumph. Armonia Atenea, directed by George Petrou, brought sublime Handelian harmonies to an enthusiastic full house at Teatru Manoel on 24 January 2019. The audience could vividly imagine the story of Handel's first oratoria through the dynamic interplay of soloists and orchestra. #vbf19 #earlymusic

SIGNUM saxophone quartet (https://signum-saxophone.com/) vibrantly produced the perfect crossover between Bach, Steve Reich and David Maslanka on 24 January 2019. Their saxophone music literally rocked the Grand Salon in the Archaeology Museum in Valletta. The audience had difficulties not to jump up and dance! #vbf19 #earlymusic

Toccami L'Anima touched the heart of the audience on 23 January 2019 at the Aula Capitulare in Mdina. The masterful play by Marco Mencoboni on the Bruce Kennedy harpsichord showed the beauty of the compositions and the expressiveness of this musical instrument. #vbf19 #earlymusic

Coro e Orchestra Ghislieri (http://www.ghislieri.cc/en/) , directed by Giulio Prandi, have gotten a standing ovation for their interpretation of Jommelli's Dixit Dominus and Pergolesi's Mass in D Major at St. Catherine Church in Zejtun on 23 January 2019. #vbf19 #earlymusic #baroque

Virtuosity, brilliance and passion resulted in a sublime performance by Charlie Siem (https://www.charliesiem.com) on 21 January 2019 at Saint Mary's Parish Church in Ħal Għaxaq. It was the first time ever that Charlie performed Bach's Violin Sonata No.1 in G minor and Violin Partita No.2 in D minor in public. #vbf19 #Bach #earlymusic

On 22 January 2019 Isang Enders (http://www.isangenders.com/) performed the Bach's Cello Suites Nos. 3, 1 and 6 at the Church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo in Senglea. He brought moments of pure delight! #vbf19 #earlymusic

What a performance on 21 January 2019 by Isang Enders (http://www.isangenders.com/) at the Our Lady of Porto Salvo Church in Senglea. He selected the Bach Cello Suites Nos. 5, 2 and 4 for his first concert which lead to an intimate and beautiful melancholic show. #vbf19 #earlymusic

The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen turned the Malta Maritime Museum in a real theatrical setting on 20 January 2019 with their performance of Pepusch' Venus and Adonis. It was fun to watch the playful interaction between the singers. #vbf19 #earlymusic #malta

'From Bach to Balanchine' brought music that inspired the famous choreographer in his work. When you closed your eyes you could easily see Balanchine's dancers move on the delightful play of Nicolas Dautricourt (violin) and Lucia Micallef (piano). #vbf19 #earlymusic

On Saturday 19 January 2019 Ensemble Alia Mens (http://www.aliamens.fr/) took us back in time as if we were at Zimmermannsches Kaffeehaus where many of Bach's cantates and instrumental works were performed. #vbf19 #earlymusic

The Collegiate Basilica of Our Lady of Victories in Senglea provided the perfect background for Divino Sospiro's take on Caldara's 'Maddalena ai piedi di Cristo'. A majestic performance of this gem of an oratorio on Saturday 19 January 2019. #vbf19 #earlymusic

On Saturday 19 January 2019 Lucile Boulanger (https://lucileboulanger.com/) made a bridge to the future with contemporary Viola da Gamba music which fitted perfectly with the well known French repertoire. Her play was elegant and enchanting, and in perfect symbiosis with the intimate setting of the Oratory of Our Lady of Charity in Valletta. #vbf19 #earlymusic #violadagamba

Accademia del Piacere (http://www.accademiadelpiacere.es/) took the audience on a dazzling journey through the passionate Spanish baroque music of Sebastián Durón on Friday 18 January 2019. Soprano Nuria Rial's delightful voice merged perfectly with the gorgeous play of the ensemble, directed by Fahmi Alqhai. #vbf19 #earlymusic

Terence Charlston and Ashley Solomon gave the most glorious and very moving performance of Bach flute sonatas on 18 January 2019 at the charming St. Catherine of Italy Church in Valletta. The audience also very much appreciated the stories told in between. #vbf19 #Bach #EarlyMusic

Valletta Baroque Ensemble gave a wonderful performance on 17 January 2019 of Händel Concertos in a packed St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral. Soprano Gillian Zammit touched the audience with Laudate Pueri. #vbf19 #earlymusic

On the 15th of January 2019 the audience could enjoy the world premiere of Michalis Economou (https://www.michaliseconomou.com/) ’s Concerto Grosso for Orchestra. Masterly performed by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (http://www.maltaorchestra.com/) at Teatru Manoel. Michalis Economou's Concerto Grosso for string orchestra was a commission of Teatru Manoel. The composition follows the traditional form, consisting of short movements like the original concerto grossos of the baroque era. The composer uses both heterophonic and polyphonic idioms in the construction of the various movements in addition to several solo parts consisting of well-known motives of the baroque era. #vbf19 #InspiredByBaroque