Once again this year, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the Festival’s Artistic Director, Joseph Vella, will inaugurate the 16th edition of the Victoria International Arts Festival, as well as closing the 5-week run of concerts with grandeur and style.

The opening concert on Wednesday 12 June will see the performance of one of the best-loved concertos for violin and orchestra, namely, Tchaikovsky’s Concert in D Major, op. 35. Soloist is the virtuoso Dejan Bogdanovich, who has made a name for himself all over Europe as a major interpreter of the Classical and Romantic repertoire. Works by Rossini, Isouard and Grieg will also feature on the programme.

The closing concert will be one with a difference.  A major new work by Joseph Vella will be given its world premiere on Monday 15 July. This work was commissioned by Christopher Hyland, an American philanthropist who is also a member of the Knights of St John. This work is aptly entitled ‘The Hyland Mass – A Prayer for Unity in Diversity’ op. 130. A quartet of soloists will be in attendance, together with a boy soprano and the Laudate Pueri Choir, the resident choir of St George’s Basilica. Other works by Verdi and Vella will be performed.

A more detailed description of the programme will be uploaded in the coming days, so, watch this space …