Dubai, United Arab of Emirates – Following the success of its summer festivals, Festivals Malta presents two festivals celebrating a variety of sub-genres from the classical repertoire – the Three Palaces Festival and the Valletta Early Opera Festival. Taking place in some of Malta’s finest venues, these two festivals will be taking place in October and November respectively.
The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici stated: “Festivals Malta is doing invaluable work in promoting culture in our country. They are reaching not only the Maltese public but also tourists who come specifically for events like these, showcasing high-quality productions. The government is making significant investments to revitalize the cultural sector in Malta. We are committed to making Malta a premier destination for arts and culture in the Mediterranean and Europe. With Festivals Malta, we are on track to achieve this ambitious goal. I congratulate Festivals Malta on their two upcoming high-caliber festivals and encourage them to continue their dedicated efforts.”
Starting with the Three Palaces Festival, which is now in its 12th edition, this year’s festival will be celebrating the 700th anniversary of the legendary traveller, writer, explorer and merchant Marco Polo. In the same bent of curiosity and exploration as the legendary, this year’s Three Palaces Festival presents a range of concerts and workshops which meander through the range of classical music; from the most classical of classical works with a concert of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi to contemporary appreciations of the classical form with Max Richter’s Four Seasons recomposed. The festival will be taking place between the 30th October and the 3rd November at some of the island’s most beautiful venues – Grandmaster’s Palace, Archaeology Museum, Verdala Palace, and Palazzo Parisio.
Hot off the heels of the Three Palaces Festival, from the 8th until the 10th November, Festivals Malta will be presenting the Valletta Early Opera Festival. This year, the festival will be presenting Mozart’s Il Re Pastore. Consisting of three performances, taking place in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, this year’s edition of the Valletta Early Opera Festival brings to the spotlight yet another of Mozart’s most underperformed operas which will be under the musical direction of Maestro Giulio Prandi and the stage direction of Tommaso Franchin. This year’s festival also boasts a stellar cast, with countertenor Federico Fiorio, sopranos Claire Debono and Catherine Trottman, tenor Nico Darmanin and baritone Raffaele Giordani.
Festivals Malta’s Chairman Aaron Zahra emphasised that, “for Festivals Malta, having two festivals of this calibre which connect both some of the finest international performers in the classical scene and locals, is something which we are incredibly proud of.”
Furthermore, Festivals Malta CEO Frans Agius stated, “Together with the magic of the venues chosen for these performances, the programme this year offers an almost full spectrum of the genre of classical music with concerts, workshops, an opera and also a masked ball during this Autumn season. A unique experience not to be missed.”
The Three Palaces Festival and the Valletta Early Opera are organised by Festivals Malta, with the support of the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.
