Malta’s Incredible Palaces Will Host A Ten Day Music Festival
Want to inject a bit of culture into your life? Rephrase: Need to impress someone by suggesting attending an ultra artsy event? We’ve got you covered on both counts.
The Three Palaces Festival is going to tick your culture box in a massive way – it’s a ten day -long festival with performances set in historically important and magnificent buildings, and includes the the participation of artists of exceptional talent from around the world.
See, we told you.
The Three Palaces Festival is fast becoming an important appointment in Malta’s cultural calendar, so lest you get left behind on the culture train – here’s seven things you need to know about the event.
1. It takes place across three of Malta’s most stunning venues.
That’s right – three of Malta’s historical Baroque palaces – San Anton Palace, Verdala Palace and the Grandmaster’s Palace – together with the National Museum of Archaeology in our very own World Heritage City of Valletta. Built during the time of the Knights of St John, these magnificent buildings have hosted many dignitaries and have held many important functions throughout time. How posh are you going to feel when you join that exclusive club?
2. World-class tenor Nico Darmanin will be performing
A Maltese tenor based in London, Nico Darmanin has studied with Gillian Zammit, at the Royal College of Music, the National Opera Studio and the Academia Rossiniana in Pesaro. He’s recorded a world premiere of Massenet songs with Richard Bonynge and has worked with world renowned artists. For this recital at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Darmanin will be treating audiences to songs by Schumann, Batting, Liszt, Massenet and Gounod. Enjoy a recital of songs by Malta’s own bel canto tenor.
3. Jazz lovers can enjoy the epic beats of the Sandro Zerafa quartet
Sandro Zerafa – one of the most active guitarists on the Paris jazz scene and Malta’s renowned jazz export – teams up with French pianist Laurent Coq, French doublebass player Simon Tailleu and Cuban drummer Lukmil Perez Herrera. They’ll present music from Zerafa’s critically lauded fourth album as a leader, “More Light”, released earlier this year on the French record label Jazz&People and distributed by Harmonia Mundi.
4. Talented Gozitan saxophonist Philip Attard will be playing with The Laefer Saxaphone Quartet
An exciting and dynamic saxophone quartet, the Laefer Quartet was formed in 2012 at the Royal College of Music, London. They won several prestigious awards and have performed across the UK. The quartet, with the talented Gozitan saxophonist Philip Attard as one of the members, specialise in performing contemporary classical repertoire and transcriptions of works by classical composers.
5. Four cellists from the Vienna Philharmonic will play all the Mozart and Schubert faves
Beautiful music will resound through the National Museum of Archaeology on the 4th, when an ensemble of four violoncellos from the famous Vienna Philharmonic will be playing well-known works by Corelli, Mozart, Schubert and Offenbach as well as others which are less frequently played in concert such as the Serenade for 4 Violoncellos, Op. 29 by Franz Lachner.
6. The Blenheim Singers will give a twist to classical Elizabethan music singing in a cappella
Oxford’s world class vocal ensemble founded at Blenheim Palace – a World Heritage masterpiece of Baroque architecture, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and backdrop to Harry Potter and James Bond 007, Spectre – will present ‘Gloriana – The Two Elizabeths’. The concert will celebrate composers and writers who flourished during the reigns of Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II, featuring some of the finest a cappella singing in a celebration of the music of the time of these two great monarchs and inspired by the spirit of each age.
7. Children under 12 get in for free
Which means that your goal to raise the most well-rounded, culturally-versed kids on the block not only comes easy – it comes cheap!
8. Audiences will get a chance to meet the fabulous artists
That’s right, Gold Ticket holders will be able to meet the talented singers and musicians throughout the event. Now that’s one for the selfie scrapbook.
In conclusion…
If you’re culturally inclined but too lazy to read through all of the detail, here’s a nifty video that’ll fill you right in.
Okay folks – now’s the time to get your tickets. For all the details on the event you’re going to want to check out the Three Palaces Festival official Facebook page.
Get cracking – the show is on between the 3 – 12 November 2017. Time to get your culture on!