2018 Bir Miftuh International Music Festival starts at month’s end

The Bir Miftuh International Music Festival, presented every spring by Din l-Art Helwa, will take place with three concerts between 25 May and 16 June at the medieval church of Santa Maria ta’ Bir Miftuh, limits of Gudja. Since its inception, the Festival has embraced the promotion of European cultural heritage, so with 2018 dedicated to such an aim by the European Council, the festival takes on further significance within the wider international cultural arena for the fostering of Europe’s diverse cultural identities. The festival is made possible each year with the participation of European Embassies and their cultural institutes.

The first concert takes place on Friday 25 May at 7.30pm - a Mandolin and Guitar Recital by the CORDAminazioni Duo made up of Tiziano Palladino - mandolin and Davide Di Ienno – guitar who will play hauntingly beautiful works by Corelli, Gervasio, Rossini, Mascagni, Bellafronte and Piazzolla.

This recital is being sponsored by the Embassy of Italy and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.

The second concert, on Friday l June at 8pm is a Violoncello and Piano Recital by the Karlsruhe Konzert Duo comprised of Reinhard Armleder – cello and Dagmar Hartmann – piano which is being made possible with the support of the GermanMaltese Circle and the Goethe-Institut. The Duo’s most fascinating programme will include works by Schumann, Mendelsshon, Liszt, Brahms, Fauré, Debussy, Granados and De Falla.

On Saturday 16 June, at 7pm the final concert in the 2018 Festival will see a String Quartet Performance by The Isouard Ensemble comprised of Vincenzo Picone – violin, Ian Ellul – violin, Matthew Fenech – viola and Gjorgji Cincievski – double bass. This concert is being made possible due to the kind support of the Embassy of France and the Alliance Française de Malte – Méditerranée.

This concert will be a tribute to the internationally acclaimed Maltese-born composer Nicoló Isouard on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death and will pay homage to his talent and outstanding work. The programme features excerpts from his delightful operas, Joconde, Jeannot et Colin, Les Rendez-vous Bourgeois and Cendrillon, as well as the uplifting Sinfonia in C minor.

Tickets for each concert are against a donation of €20 per person and include refreshments after the performance in the medieval chapel grounds. Block tickets for all three concerts and refreshments are against a donation of €50 per person, tickets for two concerts and refreshments are against a donation of €35 per person. Any funds raised are dedicated to the restoration programmes of Din l-Art Helwa.

The medieval Church of Santa Maria ta’ Bir Miftuh dates to 1435 and can be found turning left after the roundabout outside Malta International Airport. For booking and further information, kindly contact the Din l-Art Helwa Office, Tel. Nos. 21225952/21220358 from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 1:30pm or by email at info@dinlarthelwa.org