The final phase of the 14th edition of Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, comes to an end with two concerts linked with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The MPO Harp trio made up of Flutist Rebecca Hall, oboist John McDonough, and harpist Britt Arend – all principals at the MPO – will present a curated programme of original works and transcriptions that celebrate the ties between masterworks for winds. Entitled for “Masterpieces in Miniature,” works range from Bach to Mozart and from Saint-Saens to Vella.

It will be held on Tuesday, the 5th of October, at St Anthony of Padua Church, Ghajnsielem, at 8pm, with the collaboration of the Ghajnsielem Local Council.

The full MPO itself will then close the festival with a symphonic finale next Saturday, the 9th of October, at the Teatru tal-Opra Aurora, starting at 8pm.

Held with the collaboration of the Victoria Local Council and Dr Anton Tabone, this will be the MPO’s first full-scale appearance in Gozo since 2019. Conducted by Gaulitana artistic director, Colin Attard, the concert will be a belated commemoration of Beethoven 250th birth celebrations.

The concert will open with the overture to “Egmont” and continues with the grandiose Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”. Both works, often considered as almost semi-autobiographic depictions of the composer’s own life, present a musical journey full of struggles, tribulations, depressions and ultimately triumph.

The Gaulitana artistic team said that they consider this as a “very pertinent tribute to all who have played their part during the past extremely challenging year and a half, and, not least, to “Gaulitana: A Festival of Music” itself.”

Both events are being held in full compliance with current health protocols. Entrance is free, but reservations should be made on bookings.gaulitana@gmail.com

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