Bach: The Four Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066–1069
Friday 13th January 2023 - 8pm
Similar to the set of the six Brandenburg concertos, the orchestration of the four orchestral suites varies somewhat, highlighting different instruments. They are very rarely played together and consist of an ‘ouverture’ followed by a set of dance movements in the French style.
Performers: Les Passions de l’Âme dir. Meret Luthi
Ticket Link
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The Remarkably Talented Mr Weaver Presents...
Sunday 15th January 2023 - 6pm
An eighteenth-century choreographic fantasy set to music by Clarke, Croft, Eccles, Finger, Lully, Paisible and Purcell, devised and created by Stephen Wyatt & Evelyn Nallen telling the story about how English choreographer John Weaver fought to achieve his dream of creating a proper dance-drama in a world that regarded dance as a frivolous side-line.
Performers: Weaver Ensemble
Programme devised and created by Stephen Wyatt & Evelyn Nallen
Stephen Wyatt — Playwright
Evelyn Nallen — Musical Director
Jenny Miller & Alan Privett — Directors
Chris de Wilde — Costume Designer
Pete Ashmore — John Weaver/ Vulcan/Mr Worldy
Chiara Vinci — Hester Santlow/Venus/ Galatea
Romain Arreghini — Monsieur Dupré/Mars/Pygmalion
Evelyn Nallen — recorder
David Gordon — harpsichord
Lucy Mulgan — double bass
Derek Scurll — percussion
Ticket Link
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Baroque Quintessence of Handel & Vivaldi
Wednesday 18th January 2023 - 7.30pm
When one thinks of baroque music, Handel and Vivaldi are amongst the first names to come to mind. Both composers are also well-known for their wide range of repertoire written for castrato, today widely performed by countertenors.
Performers: Gabetta Consort dir. Andres Gabetta, Valer Barna-Sabadus (countertenor)
Ticket Link
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Handel: Aci, Galatea e Polifemo
Saturday 21st January 2023 - 8pm
Duchess Aurora di Sanseverino commissioned this opera for a wedding celebration in Naples; on a spicy Italian libretto penned by her private secretary Nicola Giuvo. Handel composed Aci in his early twenties, during the highly formative years he spent in Italy. The most famous aria for lyric bass from this opera is Fra L’Ombre e Gl'Orrori.
Performers: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment dir. Steven Devine, Trevor Eliot Bowes as Polifemo
Ticket Link
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Lust and Love Lost
Sunday 22nd January 2023 - 6pm
A selection of cantatas and overtures by Handel and Telemann based on the tragic consequences of unrequited love.
Performer: Combattimento and Claudia Patacca (soprano)
Ticket link
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BaRock
Saturday 28th January 2023 - 9.30pm
The Rock Troupers are returning with a bang to the Valletta Baroque Festival together with six classical baroque musicians. This rock band will present re-works of rock and baroque classics from Bach to Jon Lord and from Vivaldi to Pink Floyd.
Performer: The Rock Troupers
Ticket Link
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For the full festival programme go to: www.festivals.mt/vbf
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