VIAF 2023

WORTHY STANDARD BEARERS: NOVA SINFONIETTA

This year, as the end of another edition, sadly and rapidly approaching, the VIAF had an ace up its sleeve and presented a marvellous and eye-opening concert.

This was yesterday evening, just two days before the final concert. As Stefan Calleja was to say at the end of the concert, the recently established Nova Sinfonietta performed three concerts within the past few days. I do not know whether the first of them was their inaugural performance. Whether it was or not these eight young people came along VERY well-prepared. They came armed with an obvious and very clear love of performing and interacting and so very clear that they thoroughly enjoyed it. They projected a sensation of wanting to, yes, to enjoy themselves AND at the same time play FOR us.

They deserve every plaudit and again, despite different levels achieved so far in their studies, they got together “..honing their musical skills and expertise.” Some have finished advanced studies abroad while others are still studying overseas. Two are a married couple and another one is a mother of two. Their common denominator is striving after the best results, which can only come with great commitment to which they are so very willing to subscribe. They are the future generation of accomplished professional musicians. They are among the best local musicians of their generation and yesterday they gave their all to us.

They were very much up to it, interpreting the work of a 12-year old prodigy, namely Mendelssohn’s String Syphony n. 2 in D Major MWV, N.2. There was a time when I often listened to these symphonies which were always a source of enjoyment and wonder. There are dozen of them with an unfinished 13th. It is such a pity that they are so rarely performed and this was the first time I was listening to one in these islands.

The D Major, not to be confused with the other D Major Symphony of the set (N.😎, is particularly attractive because it reflects and embodies well the three major influences on the pre-teen’s musical development. The Classical imprint in the opening Allegro is followed by the Baroque flavour of the Andante to end in an Allegro vivace bearing more than a tinge of Beethoven with its vigorous pace and obvious zest.

Another musical wonder, perhaps THE most difficult work ever composed for a solo instrument is J.S. Bach’s Chaconne, movement from Partita N. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004. It is an awe-inspiring, monumental piece of musical architecture in which the soloist goes from level to level and keeps one so often on the brink of expectation of a final resolution only to find yet another way to continue up another step. I find the solo original as one speaking in several voices. This arrangement for eight string players takes that in consideration. Thematic material is generously shared and all different sections have an important share in the process. The leader, Stefan Calleja and Ian Ellul often took over; Kurt Falzon and Pierre Louis Attard had their moments too. So did all four violins combined. Stephanie Pavia on viola had hers as did cellists Desirée Calleja and Daniel Xuereb either on their own or with Abbey Grech. The latter was the solid bass foundation of the whole work. The feeling increased in intensity and in ingenious trodding of a labyrinthine path which however, always found a near resolution until another opening finally led to the work’s conclusion. Such vibrant playing, such a marvellously textured performance that I would say that the applause at the end of the work was one of the most enthusiastic of the ten events I followed during this edition.

The concert officially ended with the arrangement for eight strings of the opening Allegro movement of Schubert’s magnificent String Quartet n. 14, in D Minor, D. 810, (Der Tod und das Mädchen). The solid commitment and deeply felt sweep of the opening theme, a steady single-mindedness reflecting the solid rhythmic structure followed with that type of irresistible Schubertian sweetness which is never harmful because there is no saccharin in it. How I wished the entire quartet were performed! Maybe Nova Sinfonietta will take it into consideration.

Applause was very warm and an encore was conceded. This was Romance from s Suite British composer composer Christopher Wilson (1874-1919). Stephen Calleja thanked the VIAF and the public. He wanted to stress his gratitude and that of his his colleagues to the Bank of Valletta-Joseph Calleja Foundation and the Janatha Stubbs Foundation for the great support they have received from them, past and present, and which has helped them so much in their studies. Very very well-said!

That was not the end because another encore was conceded, unannounced but immediately recognisable. It was a witty take on the famous Largo al factotum sung by Figaro in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Immensely great fun!

Albert George Storace.