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Estonian Sinfonietta at the Malta International Spring Orchestra Festival

 

  Estonian Sinfonietta rehearsing at the Teatru Manoel in Valletta
At the beginning of May, the season of Eesti Sinfonietta ended majestically at 13th Malta International Spring Orchestra Festival, where orchestra gave two concerts at the Teatru Manoel, in the main concert venue of Valletta.

The festival was held on April 26 to May 4 and carried the subtitle „Of Death and Maidens“. The first concert of Estonian Sinfonietta Soloists took place on May 3, the program consisted of Valse triste by Jean Sibelius, Midnight in Riga by Arturs Maskats, Polka by Alfred Schnittke, Metamorphosen by Richard Strauss and fragments of music to Tõnu Virves’ movie Death Dance by Lepo Sumera (arr by Johannes Põlda).

Soloists were Johannes Põlda (violin), Maria Nesterenko (viola), Allar Kaasik (cello) and Karl Johann Lattikas (vibraphone).

The second concert which was the closing concert of the festival was given on May 4 under the baton of Maltese-born conductor Brian Schembri. Estonian Sinfonietta performed Chamber Music No. 1 by Paul Hindemith, Aubade by Francis Poulenc (soloist pianist Lucia Micallef), Quatre miniatures by Karl Fiorini and Kindertotenlieder by Gustav Mahler (soloist mezzo-soprano Brigitte Peyré). The concert was also visited by the George W. Vella, the President of Malta.

The International Spring Orchestra Festival is about musicians, composers, and artists who come together here in Malta to create an incredible musical experience and share with its audience a spectacular musical journey. Over its first 10 years, this festival has gone from strength to strength in making music in cultural heritage places around the Maltese islands, of the highest artistic quality. This vibrant and energetic venture contributes to many aspects of the Maltese society be it cultural, economic and educative, and highlights the cultural calendar of the season.

Estonian Sinfonietta was the first Estonian orchestra performing in Malta.

Look also: Estonian Sinfonietta

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