monteverdiproject – 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.

13/03/202127/03/2022

A Breath of Fresh Air!

It’s been nearly a year since I’ve written my last post. The arts were hit big time! I consider myself lucky and grateful to have been able to do a couple of performances during these last few months…

Last October, after a long seven-month hiatus, together with KorMalta I’ve sung in United We Stand: from the Renaissance to today, a concert at the Greek open-air theatre at MCAST, Mosta.

In January I was part of another concert with KorMalta, Baroque Female Composers, this time as part of the Valletta Baroque Festival, in which VIBE were the musical ensemble. We performed Salmi Concertati a 4 Voci, a piece by the female composer Isabella Leonarda written in 1698.

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

22/09/201908/10/2019

Upcoming Concerts

After a well-deserved summer break, rehearsals are back in full swing for a couple of upcoming projects! This November, on All Souls’ Day, I shall be singing Biber’s Requiem in F minor with KorMalta and VIBE (Valletta International Baroque Ensemble). This will be held at St Dominic’s Church in Valletta. This requiem will then have a repeat performance in January, as part of the Valletta Baroque Festival 2020, with the latter taking place at the Parish Church of St. George in Qormi.

Together with the Monteverdi Project we shall be holding two concerts under the direction of Mro. Marco Mencoboni. Starting with the one on the 14th of December, we will be performing a number of madrigals and pieces from the late Renaissance and early Baroque period. The music is from the likes of Girolamo Frescobaldi, Gesualdo Caro, Giovanni De Macque, Alessandro Grandi and Orlando di Lasso amongst others. In mid-January, we shall then perform Durante’s Requiem in C minor with Cantar Lontano & VIBE. This will also be part of the Valletta Baroque Festival 2020 and will be held at the Church of St. Philip of Agira in Ħaż-Żebbuġ.