Three international artists and a world class orchestra for Mother’s day

On 10 May, Mother’s Day, a concert will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC). This is no usual concert. Not only will it bring together three international artists from different parts of the world but it will also showcase the Tbilisi state Chamber orchestra, Georgian Sinfonietta, a world class orchestra which has performed in various prestigious halls. It is the opening event of the cultural calendar which the MCC is organising through its artistic director, Tony Cassar Darien and the Arts manager,Alexei Galea Cavallazzi who have only recently been appointed to their respective posts.

Mr Cassar Darien is a veteran of the theatre and a well-known name in Malta. Mr Galea Cavallazzi,who will also be conducting the Georgian Sinfonietta, is synonymous with Russia and music. Being the only Maltese to complete the full undergraduate course at the Moscow State Conservatoire where he studied with the legendary Russian pianist Merzhanov and also having been awarded the Union Federation medal by the Russian Parliament for his contribution to the cultural ties between Russia and Malta, Alexei is one of Malta’s foremost musicians who has appeared as pianist, conductor and jury mem- ber in international piano competitions. He is alsoa graduate in Musicology from the University of Oxford and studied conducting in Dresden and Vienna with Leissner and Maschat. Alexei played an important role in the organisation of the Malta International Music Festival as well as the Valletta Piano festival.

The pianist for the concert is Mikhail Lidsky, a professor at the Moscow State Conservatoire and a leading virtuoso with immense experience. Lidsky has a huge repertoire and an impeccable technique.The violinist is Alessandro Borgomanero,one of Brasil’s leading musicians and professor of violin at the University of Goias. Borgomanero, whose origins are Italian, has played in prestigious halls all over the world. His violin is a Stradivarius.

The programme is varied and accessible to musicians and nonmusicians alike. It is an eclectic programme. The first item is the Holberg Suite for strings by Norwegian composer Grieg. This shall be followed by Mozart’s Piano concerto number 14,Kv 449. Borgomanero will be the soloist in Nobre’s Desafio number 3. Nobre is a Brazilian composer of the 20th century. Desafio means challenge in Portuguese. After the interval the orchestra will perform a piece from Georgia, Tsintsadze, music for strings. The closing piece shall be the famous Mendelssohnconcerto for violin, piano and strings in d minor which shall bring together both soloists and orchestra. It is rare to be able to hear such musicmaking on such a level and this will definitely be a great start to an interesting cultural season at the MCC.

The concert will be held at La Vallette Hall at 6pm. Tickets are €15. Children under 12 pay €10. For bookings and tickets phone on 2559 5750.