InClassica Malta International Music Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with star-studded line-up

INCLASSICA MALTA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY WITH STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP 

17 April – 11 May 2021 

33 Soloists including Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capuçon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Andreas Ottensammer, Grigory Sokolov and Maxim Vengerov among others 

8 Orchestras including Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège and others directed by Gergely Madaras, Alexander Shelley, Dmitry Yablonsky, Sergey Smbatyan and other leading conductors 

Alexey Shor is the Festival’s Composer-in-Residence 

InClassica Malta International Music Festival has established itself as one of the world’s leading music festivals, and for its 10th year anniversary edition is offering music lovers a star-studded line-up in Malta’s historic capital Valletta.  

Soloists scheduled to appear in the festival represent  some of the biggest names in classical music, and include piano legends Martha Argerich and Grigory Sokolov alongside Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capuçon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Andreas Ottensammer and Maxim Vengerov. 

As well as the local Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Malta Youth Orchestra, visiting orchestras will include the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Russian National Orchestra and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, with conductors Gergely Madaras, Marius Stravinsky, Michael Francis, Alexander Sladkovsky, Alexander Shelley, Dmitry Yablonsky, Gianluca Marciano and Sergey Smbatyan. 

The three-weeks-long festival will present concerts in one of Malta’s oldest and most beautiful 16th century buildings, the Mediterranean Conference Centre, and is organised by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the European Foundation for the Support of Culture (EFSC) which promotes cultural and educational projects throughout the continent. Its President, Konstantin Ishkhanov, said:  

“After such a difficult year for so many musicians and music-lovers the EFSC is thrilled to be able to offer three weeks of outstanding music-making from some of the world’s finest musicians. The setting in Malta couldn’t be more beautiful, and visitors are guaranteed a cultural experience that is unique to this enchanting Mediterranean island.”  

The 2021 programme celebrates classic works and composers alongside contemporary pieces from the Festival’s Composer-in-Residence, Alexey Shor, who currently holds residencies with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Academie and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Shor’s works are programmed throughout the Festival including the suite from his “Crystal Palace” ballet which was played at the opening of the 40th anniversary of the Gramophone Awards ceremony, and the world premiere of his new Violin Concerto.  

This year’s festival will also feature the ‘Classic Piano’ International Competition in Malta with a total prize fund of 300,000 EUR, as well as the festival’s Malta Classical Music Academy. More details on both of these initiatives will be published soon. 

For more information visit http://www.inclassica.com 

Ends 

For press enquiries please contact Simon Millward at Premier:[Text Wrapping Break]Simon.Millward@premiercomms.com | 44 799 050 7310  

 

Notes to Editors 

Full Schedule: 

17 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Malta Philharmonic Orchestra & Jerusalem Symphonic Orchestra 

Shor: “Images from the Great Siege”[Text Wrapping Break]Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker 

18 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Martha Argerich[Text Wrapping Break]Akiko Ebi[Text Wrapping Break]Dmitry Yablonsky[Text Wrapping Break]Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra 

Mendelsohn: Italian symphony [Text Wrapping Break]Ravel: Left Hand Concerto[Text Wrapping Break]Beethoven: No. 1, op 15  

19 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Stella Chen 

Carmen Giannattasio [Text Wrapping Break]Gianluca Marciano[Text Wrapping Break]Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra 

Verdi: Nabucco Overture [Text Wrapping Break]Verdi: Vespri Siciliani Overture[Text Wrapping Break]Shor: Phantasms [Text Wrapping Break]Shor: “Crystal Palace” Suite 

20 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Gary Hoffman [Text Wrapping Break]Severin von Eckardstein[Text Wrapping Break]Dmitry Yablonsky[Text Wrapping Break]Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra  

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5[Text Wrapping Break]Dvorák: Cello Concerto 

21 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Dogadin[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Russian National Orchestra 

Shor: “Four seasons of Manhattan”[Text Wrapping Break]Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso[Text Wrapping Break]Ravel: Tzygane[Text Wrapping Break]Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2  

22 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Steven Isserlis [Text Wrapping Break]Anna Tifu[Text Wrapping Break]Marius Stravinsky[Text Wrapping Break]Russian National Orchestra 

Saint-Saens: Concerto No.1[Text Wrapping Break]Rimsky-Korsakov: Suite from “The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya” [Text Wrapping Break]Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 

23 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Julia Zilberquit[Text Wrapping Break]David Aaron Carpenter 

Dmitry Yablonsky[Text Wrapping Break]Russian National Orchestra 

Beethoven: Leonore Overture N3, C major[Text Wrapping Break]Beethoven: Piano Concerto in E flat major [Text Wrapping Break]Shor: “Two songs for my kids”  for viola and orchestra[Text Wrapping Break]Bartók: Concerto for viola and orchestra [Text Wrapping Break]Strauss: “Don Juan”  

24 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Denis Matsuev                [Text Wrapping Break]Alexander Sladkovsky[Text Wrapping Break]Russian National Orchestra 

Rachmaninoff - Piano concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30[Text Wrapping Break]Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances op.45 

25 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Rudolf Buchbinder[Text Wrapping Break]Michael Francis[Text Wrapping Break]Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Brahms: The Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15.[Text Wrapping Break]Dvorák: Slavonic Dances op.72" 

26 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Andreas Ottensammer[Text Wrapping Break]Michael Francis[Text Wrapping Break]Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Holmes: Pologne Symphonic Poem[Text Wrapping Break]Shor: Clarinet concerto[Text Wrapping Break]Dvorák: Symphony ?7 in D Minor, op. 70 

27 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Gidon Kremer[Text Wrapping Break]Giedre Dirvanauskaite[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Glass: Double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra[Text Wrapping Break]Dvorák: Symphony No.6 in D major, op. 60" 

28 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Denis Kozhukhin[Text Wrapping Break]Michael Francis[Text Wrapping Break]Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Shor: "Travel Notebook"[Text Wrapping Break]Stravinsky: Firebird Suite 

29 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Roman Simovich[Text Wrapping Break]Yeol Eum Son[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Malta Philharmonic Orchestra 

Prokofiev: Excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet” Suites, Op.64 [Text Wrapping Break]Prokofiev: Violin Concerto ?2[Text Wrapping Break]Prokofiev: Piano Concerto ?3 

30 April 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Andrey Gugnin[Text Wrapping Break]Lawrence Power[Text Wrapping Break]Gergely Madaras[Text Wrapping Break]Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Franck: Les Eolides [Text Wrapping Break]Shor: Childhood Memories concerto[Text Wrapping Break]MacMillan - Viola Concerto 

01 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Leonard Schreiber[Text Wrapping Break]Gergely Madaras[Text Wrapping Break]Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Shor: “Well-Tempered Chanson” [Text Wrapping Break]Schumann: Symphony ?1 “Spring” 

02 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Gautier Capuçon[Text Wrapping Break]Gergely Madaras[Text Wrapping Break]Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Lekeu: Fantaisie sur deux airs populaires angevins[Text Wrapping Break]Fauré: Elegy for Cello & Orchestra[Text Wrapping Break]Shor: “Musical Pilgrimage”[Text Wrapping Break]Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 

03 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Yekwoon Sunwoo[Text Wrapping Break]Gergely Madaras[Text Wrapping Break]Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège[Text Wrapping Break]Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2[Text Wrapping Break]Ravel: Ma Mère l’oye, ballet 

04 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Daniel Hope [Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Malta Philharmonic Orchestra  

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture[Text Wrapping Break]Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1[Text Wrapping Break]Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7 

05 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Kit Armstrong[Text Wrapping Break]Alexander Shelley[Text Wrapping Break]Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20[Text Wrapping Break]Brahms: Symphony No. 2 

06 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Danielle de Niese[Text Wrapping Break]Alexander Shelley[Text Wrapping Break]Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Programme TBC 

07 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Freddy Kempf[Text Wrapping Break]Carmine Lauri[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Shor: “From My bookshelf”[Text Wrapping Break]Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2[Text Wrapping Break]Tchaikovsky: excerpts from Swan Lake 

08 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Maxim Vengerov[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  

Shor: Seascapes for violin and orchestra[Text Wrapping Break]Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 

09 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Grigory Sokolov- 

Programme TBC  

10 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Khachatryan[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Armenian State Symphony Orchestra 

Sibelius: Violin Concerto[Text Wrapping Break]Khachaturian: Symphony No.2 "The Bell Symphony" 

11 May 2021[Text Wrapping Break]Daniel Lozakovich[Text Wrapping Break]Sergey Smbatyan[Text Wrapping Break]Malta Philharmonic Orchestra  

Shor: Violin Concerto in B-minor  (world premiere)[Text Wrapping Break]Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Overture[Text Wrapping Break]Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition 

 

European Foundation for Support of Culture[Text Wrapping Break]European Foundation for Support of Culture (EFSC) is a non-profit organization established in Malta with the aim of organizing and promoting cultural and educational projects in Europe. 

Since its inception, the EFSC has registered an unprecedented portfolio of festivals, international music competitions, concert series, recordings, broadcasts, world premieres, productions, exhibitions and other cultural events in many different countries around the world. The calendar of?events reaches its climax with the Malta International Music Festival which is held every Spring. 

The main objectives of the Foundation are the organisation of festivals, competitions, special events, exhibitions, conferences, presentations, master classes, seminars, roundtables, concerts and other events and projects aimed at supporting and developing culture, increasing interest in various areas of modern art, promotion of young talented musicians and the search for gifted children. 

The promotion of classical music takes a special place in the activity of the Foundation. EFSC has presented a large number of classical music festivals not only in Malta, but?in more than 30 countries around the world. 

Alexey Shor[Text Wrapping Break]Alexey Shor was born in Kiev in 1970, immigrated to Israel in 1991, and now lives primarily in the USA. His compositions have been performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls, including Wiener Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Mariinsky Theatre, Kremlin Palace, The Concertgebouw, Gasteig (Munich), Wigmore Hall, Teatro Argentina (Rome) and many others.  

Concerts of his music have been broadcast on MediciTV, Mezzo and Euronews. The Overture to his ballet Crystal Palace was performed at the 40th Gramophone Classical Music Awards in London. ?In 2018 he was awarded an honorary professorship at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. 

Shor’s scores are published by Breitkopf & Hartel and P.Jurgenson. Recordings of his compositions have been issued by Warner Classics, Decca, Sony Classics, Delos, Berlin Classics and Melodiya.