Following on from the success of its first edition, the Classique Foundation is once again organising the Music+ Festival under the Artist Direction of Joseph Debrincat.

This year it is being held between the 27th of September and the 1st of November, with a programme of recitals from local and international artists, master classes in different instruments, workshops for Primary school students and talks.

New for this year, will be an opera from children to children, which the Foundation said they are thrilled to present.

Music+ kicks off on the 27th of September with a recital by Anastasiya Petryshak (violin) and Lorenzo Meo (piano) from Ukraine and Italy respectively. Both artists are very renowned internationally and have performed all over Europe.

This is followed on the 28th of September by a recital featuring renowned Italian soprano Rossana Potenza and pianist Leonardo Quadrini. Potenza has featured in numerous opera performances and has worked side by side with big names such as Domingo, Carreras and Mirella Freni. She has also worked with great conductors such as Lorin Maazel and Gustav Kuhn among others.

On the 29th, Hungarian cellist Akos Kertesz and pianist Rita Kertesz will present another recital.

Then on the 13th of October another recital,l this time by trumpeter Brendan Ball, trumpet player with the Malta Philharmonic, and pianist Elaine Mercieca. During the latter Ball and Mercieca will give the world premiere of Alan Cassar’s Deconstructed Images.

Maltese pianist Joanne Camilleri will give a piano recital on the 19th. On the 20th there will be a recital by world-class clarinetist Corrado Giuffredi and his pianist Roberto Arosio. Giuffredi is one of the most celebrated clarinetist in the world and has featured in the most prestigious venues around the world. He is a Backun and Legere artist.

Up-and-coming Gozitan pianist Daphne Delicata will give a recital on the 27th of October.

All these recitals will take place at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo and start at 7.30pm. The last recital in the series will take place on the 1st of November at the St. Francis Church, Victoria.

This recital will feature Italian string quartet Quartetto Mediterraneo. The programme includes among other Joseph Vella’s early work Piccolo Divertimenti, Op.2. The concert starts at 7.30pm.Apart from recitals Music+ will once again be presenting a number of masterclasses. On the 28th of September at 9am, Anastasiya Petryshak and Lorenzo Meo will give master classes in violin (at the Sacred Heart Seminary), and piano (at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo) respectively.

On the 19th of October, clarinetist Corrado Giuffredi will give a master class in clarinet at the Gozo VPA School, Xewkija.

The Foundation said that “it is with great pleasure to announce that all 3 master classes are full up and these master classes will be attended by students from both Malta and Gozo.”

Two workshops intended for selected Primary School children, in the series Opera 4 Kids will once again be part of Music+.

This year’s workshops, entitled The Magic Flute: A Performance Workshop for Kids will take place on the 2nd of October at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo.

Both workshops will be conducted by Ms. Lorraine Aquilina. Soprano Francesca Aquilina, tenor Charles Vincenti, baritone Louis A. Cassar and pianist Tom Armitage will animate the sessions.

All children attending this workshop will be presented with a booklet about Mozart’s opera prepared by the artistic director of the festival Joseph Debrincat.

The on the 4th of October at the Circolo Gozitano, starting at 7.30pm, Dr Abraham Borg will deliver a talk entitled From Il Trovatore to La Boheme. This talk will be delivered in English.BO-PEEP is an opera for children, composed in 1968 by Gozitan composer Joseph Vella (1942-2018).

The Foundation said that this production will feature four young soloists, the VPA Dance Department (choreographer: Christabel Bajada), the SCJ Children’s Choir (chorus mistress: Marouska Attard).

The artistic direction will be by Gordon John Grech whereas Joseph Debrincat conducts the Classique Ensemble (made up of international and local musicians). Scenography is by Denis Mompalao.

This opera itself will be previewed by a 30-minute explanation by actors Marion Scarborough and George Camilleri. The whole event will take an hour.

The event will take place on 31st October at the Teatru Giovanni, Xewkija and there will be 2 performances: one at 10am for children from the Gozo College and Gozo Church Schools; and another one at 7.30pm open to the general public. Free Entrance. The opera is suitable for children aged 9yrs+.

All events are free of charge.

The Foundation said that Music+ is mainly supported by the Ministry for Gozo and visitgozo. It went on to say that it is also indebted to other institutions namely: Nivea, Backun Musical Services, Legere Reeds, Ministry for Tourism, Ministry of Education and Employment, Visit Malta, Malta Arts Council, Mikiel A. Vassalli College, Gozo VPA School, ARMS, Aldox and Playpen Stationary whose support is highly appreciated.

For more details and queries contact: musicplusgozo@gmail.com – 7970 3288 / 9900 6727 / 9948 7341.

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