A musical opening for The Malta Arts Festival

The programme will open with Tchaikovsky’s famous 1st Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 23 performed by award-winning and internationally acclaimed Ukrainian pianist Oleg Poliansky. Poliansky has collaborated with great musicians such as Pierre Amoyal, Sayaka Shoji, Boris Pergamenschikov, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Tatjana Vassilieva and many others in European countries, North America and Asia.

The main highlight of the programme is the Malta premiere of Charles Camilleri’s ‘New Idea’ Symphony, following several performances in other countries including Belgium and France. The symphony, one of the last Maltese works by Camilleri, was first performed in January 2007 when it was recorded at the historical Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow, Scotland with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the direction of Brian Schembri.

The programme includes another first for the Maltese concert platform Igor Stravinsky’s famous Firebird Suite. Originally composed in 1910 as a ballet for the Ballets Russes by the 28-year old Stravinsky, the suite also known as Concert suite for orchestra No. 2 was composed in 1919. ‘The Firebird’ was written for a very large orchestra including quadruple woodwind and three harps, as well as a piano. The theme of the story is based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird. Many adaptations of the Firebird Suite for bands and drum corps have been made throughout the years.

Tickets are at €25 and €20, concessions for students and senior citizens are at €15. Children of 12 years and under enter for free. Tickets are available at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

For more information please log on to www.maltaartsfestival.org.