A Night Of Strings: Violin And Guitar Concert At The Manoel Theatre
Maltese violinist Samuel Cutajar is teaming up with German-Australian guitarist Kolja Gibbs for a concert titled “Paganini to Piazzolla” on 29th October at Teatru Manoel.
Performing as Duo Hafdar, the programme explores the expressive possibilities of the violin and guitar across more than three centuries, from the Baroque elegance of Albinoni to the virtuosic flair of Paganini, the romantic lyricism of the 19th century, and the passionate, tango-inspired world of Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango”. The concert will also feature works by Maltese composers Carlo Fiamino and Albert Garzia.
Samuel Cutajar has performed as a soloist with several orchestras thanks to the European Foundation for Support of Culture and won the Vera Kantrovich Bach Competition in 2020 with a performance of Bach’s complete 2nd solo sonata in A minor. Since joining the Royal Academy, he has participated in a mentorship scheme with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, regularly playing with their orchestra, as well as holding a part-time position with Sinfonia Cymru and Glyndebourne Sinfonia.
He has been a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra since 2020 and has led the Royal Academy’s orchestra, working with renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Antonio Pappano, Gianandrea Noseda, Vasily Petrenko and Pekka Kuusisto.
Kolja Gibbs began his career in London in 2015 and has since been active as a performer, arranger, and teacher. He completed a Bachelor of Music with first-class honours at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under Prof. Graham Anthony Devine and earned his Master’s degree at Conservatorium Maastricht in 2024 in the class of Prof. Carlo Marchione.
The concert offers an opportunity to experience the dynamic interplay between violin and guitar, combining technical mastery with expressive storytelling. Tickets are available from the Teatru Manoel booking office, online at teatrumanoel.mt, or by calling 2124 6389.
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