madrigal – Mark Bartolo

31/03/202231/03/2022

Back on Track!

More than a year has passed since I’ve written my last post. Concerts started slowly happening again and I’ve been part of a few since last December.

In a Christmas Concert together with the Monteverdi Project, I sang Agnus Dei together with Stanley Portelli and Lisa Baldacchino , a trio by Luigi Battiferri. This was held at the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta.

The Monteverdi Project Christmas Concert (photo by Albert George Storace) [2021]

In January it was time for the Valletta Baroque Festival. In this festival I sang in Handel’s Messiah together with KorMalta at the prestigious St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta under the direction of Mro. Christian Curnyn.

Handel’s Messiah (photo by Valletta Baroque Festival) [2022]

A week later, in the same festival, I performed a Vincenzo Tozzi madrigal with an ensemble from the Monteverdi Project in a concert titled The Rediscovered Madrigals of the Mdina Archives. In the latter a number of pieces from the Mdina Cathedral archives where performed for the first time in a modern setting.

20/04/202024/01/2021

When is the next performance?

This year started out quite busy with two performances in January; Durante’s Requiem with The Monteverdi Project and Biber’s Requiem with KorMalta.

In March I was then part of the chorus in Rossini’s Requiem, directed by Vivien Hewitt. This was held at the Manoel Theatre and came out to be the last performance just before a number of health restrictions came into place due to COVID-19.

When is the next performance? Who knows … in the mean time, here is clip from last December’s concert, A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music with The Monteverdi Project.

31/12/201931/12/2019

The Year 2019

The year 2019 started with Missa In Illo Tempore, where together with The Monteverdi Project and Cantar Lontano we performed this Monteverdi mass at Qrendi. In March, the yearly opera appointment was on, where this time I sang as chorus in Così Fan Tutte, directed by Jack Furness. In the same month the European Day of Early Music was celebrated with a concert with The Monteverdi Project at Żejtun.

Così Fan Tutte (photo by Christine Joan Muscat-Azzopardi)

In April I joined KorMalta for the opening number of the Malta Arts Awards 2019, while in November we performed Biber’s Requiem (in F minor) together with VIBE. The last concert of 2019 was A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music where together with The Monteverdi Project we sung a selection of pieces and madrigals from this era.

A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music (photo by Glen Slattery Photography)

I’ve ended the year with KorMalta where we performed the National Anthem that was broadcasted before President Dr. George Vella’s Christmas message.

The Maltese National Anthem with KorMalta