Programme

A SCHUBERT EVENING

(1797 – 1828)

                                                                Fantasia in F Minor D. 940

                                                                Piano Quintet in A Major D. 667 (‘Trout’)                                                               

Marcelline Agius has been Leader of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra since 1993, having joined the Manoel Theatre Orchestra in 1984. She has performed widely in Malta and internationally, appearing at major venues including the Carnegie Hall (New York), the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Musikverein, Vienna. As a soloist and chamber musician, her repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary works. In 2006, she performed with the World Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris.

Orietta Beaumer started her musical studies on the violin at an early age. She formed part of the Manoel Theatre Orchestra and concurrently attended intensive master classes at the Conservatoire Regional de Lyon. Moving to the South of France, Orietta read for a degree in Viola Performance at the same Conservatoire de Lyon where she graduated with full honours and won the coveted ‘Medaille d’Or a’ l Uninamite’ avec Felicitations du Jury’. Orietta has formed part of the Orchestra National de Montpellier, the Orchestra National Avignon-Provence, and for the last 10 years she has also been a member of the Orchestra de Chamber des Cevennes. Orietta has been joining the MPO on tours and playing with the viola section on special concerts as a guest artist.

Frank Camilleri began studying the violoncello with Valeriu Popovici and later continued under cellist Simon Abdilla Joslin. He attended master classes locally and abroad, including renowned cellist Enrico Dindo. Frank has performed with several orchestras in Malta and internationally, namely, the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra, and the Mediterranean Orchestra. He also performs with the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble (VIBE), appears as a soloist in recitals, and is a member of the Cordia String Quartet and the MPO String Quartet. Since 2006, he has been a full-time cellist with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

Michelle Agius started her musical studies studying the piano at the age of 8, eventually moved to the double bass at the Johann Strauss School of Music. After graduating with a Bachelor of Honours in Music, Michelle started to play with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra as a part-time musician while completing her studies in Music Pedagogy.  Michelle has performed in many music festivals and in all kinds of music genres. After reading for a Master’s degree in Double Bass, Michelle joined the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra as sub-principal Double Bass and since then she has performed with the orchestra in numerous concert halls around the world. Currently, Michelle is Acting Leader of the Double Bass section.

Francis Camilleri commenced his pianoforte studies with Lucia Micallef and Karen Briscoe, obtaining the Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music with distinction. His recent performances include the revival of Joseph Vella’s Piano Concerto op. 41 with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Michael Laus and a debut solo recital at the Teatru Manoel. In the coming months, Francis will feature as a soloist in Rome’s iconic Castel Sant’ Angelo as part of Malta Day celebrations and will be the chorus master and repetiteur for Teatru Astra’s upcoming production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. He has recently finished his doctoral studies in pianoforte performance with the University of Malta. Francis is a member of the Laudate Pueri Choir and the Victoria International Arts Festival.

Maria Frendo is Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Malta and a member of the editorial board of CounterText, a Literary Studies Journal published with Edinburgh University Press. She is also a Fellow of the London College of Music and of Trinity College of Music, London, in classical singing and pianoforte performance respectively. Her recently published monograph is Vissi d’arte: Puccini and Decadence. Maria is the co-curator of the Joseph Vella Music Archive at Il-Ħaġar Musem, Victoria Gozo, assistant Artistic Director of the Victoria International Arts Festival, and leader of the Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s Basilica. She was appointed to the National Order of Merit in 2012.

This concert will start at 8.30pm.