The 5th Edition of the International Spring Orchestra Festival supported by the Vodafone Malta Foundation kicks off on April 26, with an opening Orchestral concert by the Rotterdam Ensemble. The Festival is being directed by 31 year-old Paris-based composer Karl Fiorini.

The Festival is happening between Tuesday, the 26th of April and Saturday, the 30th of April and will see a number of Maltese composers and musicians perform alongside foreign participants. This year’s appointment with classical music will compromise of seven concerts spread on five days at different venues. They are also open to the public free of charge. The Rotterdam Ensemble, one of the most prominent chamber orchestras in the Dutch classical music scene has been invited as resident orchestra.

Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson Vodafone Malta Foundation said, “We are pleased to be supporting a Festival that has grown into a annual popular event for young and old alike and that aims to instil awareness of the rich language of classical music. This year’s progamme promises to deliver a broad musical palette with works of contrasting nature.”

The opening concert is on Tuesday 26th April at 6pm at Piazza Tigne and will include a performance of Haydn’s 70th Symphony by the Rotterdam Ensemble. The orchestra’s conductor, Roberto Beltran-Zavala, will be in Malta for the fourth time and is looking forward to perform an exciting and enticing program that include’s Bartok’s Divertimento for Strings and Shostakovich’s Piano concerto No1 among others.

As in previous years, the festival will also include two children’s concerts on Friday 29th April at 1pm and 1.45pm at the Teatru Manoel. Another performance is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Resources and Rural affairs at the Sant Antnin Waste Plant in Marsascala on Thursday 28th April at 8.00 pm.

On the final day a Classical Music Marathon aimed at young debutantes will happen at the Sala Isouard, Teatru Manoel. The marathon starts at 10am. Local established musicians will also take part. The 12-hour marathon will culminate in an orchestral concert by the guest orchestra at 8pm at the Teatru Manoel. The concert is the official Queen’s Day celebration for the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Malta – an evening that promises to be an exciting event full of music and joy.

“Many might have the impression that classical music is for the bourgeois,” said Karl Fiorini. “This needs to change. Classical music can be enjoyed by everyone only if one is curious enough to make the first step”. Since the festival’s birth in 2007, many artists of international standing have stepped on the concert platform such as Mats Lidstorm, Matthias Wollong, Yuko Inoue, Carmine Lauri, Madeleine Mitchell, Brian Schembri, Emanuel Salvador and others. Tickets are free of charge but need to be reserved from the Teatru Manoel’s booking office on 21246389. A non-nominative contribution will be asked for at the door.

Dates and venues:

Tuesday 26 April Opening orchestral concert, Piazza Tigne, 6pm

Tuesday 26 April Orchestral concert, Teatru Manoel, 8pm

Wednesday 27 April Chamber concert, Sala Isouard Teatru Manoel, 12:30pm

Wednesday 27 April Pallas Piano Quartet, Sala Isouard Teatru Manoel, 8pm

Thursday 28 April Orchestral Concert, St Antnin Waste Plant Marsaskala, 8pm

Friday 29 April Children’s concerts, Teatru Manoel, 1pm and 1:45 pm

Friday 29 April Equinox Trio, Sala Isouard Teatru Manoel, 8pm

Saturday 30 April Classical Music Marathon, Sala Isouard Teatru Manoel, 10am-8pm

Saturday 30 April Closing Orchestral Concert Teatru Manoel, 8pm

The 5th Edition of the International Spring Orchestra Festical is being held in collaboration with the Manoel Theatre. It is being supported by Vodafone Malta Foundation, Bank of Valletta, Credit Europe Bank, Wasteserv Malta Ltd and Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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