rehearsal – Mark Bartolo

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.

19/04/201812/05/2019

Don Giovanni

In the first week of March I was part of the chorus for the opera Don Giovanni, with music by Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. This is the second of a trilogy written by the latter two. Like last year, the opera was directed by Jack Furness, with Mro. Philip Walsh conducting the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Don Giovanni was held over four nights at the prestigious Manoel Theatre in Valletta. This was my fifth opera, with the last one being Patience, in which I interpreted the role of Major Murgatroyd.

23/12/201707/06/2020

The Monteverdi Project

Back in August we had our first masterclass with Mro. Marco Mencoboni as part of The Monteverdi Project. Monthly masterclasses were held specializing in baroque music. All this culminated in a baroque concert together with VIBE (Valletta International Baroqie Ensemble) on the 21st of December at St. Gregory’s Church, Żejtun. In this concert, presented by Teatru Manoel, a 14-piece orchestra performed together with The Monteverdi Project Vocal Ensemble under the baton of Mro. Marco Mencoboni.

Continue reading “The Monteverdi Project”

08/10/201701/10/2019

Patience

A week has passed from the closing night of the operetta Patience. A summer of rehearsals culminated in a weekend of performances at the Salesian’s Theatre. This was my first role in an opera; that of Major Murgatroyd. With music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, this production was directed by Tama Matheson. The 9-piece orchestra was under the baton of Mro. Philip Walsh. Performed by TMYO & Guests, Patience was part of the Manoel Theatre’s Toi Toi Season 2017-2018.

13/08/201701/10/2019

Summer So Far

It’s been some time since I posted. After Le Nozze di Figaro was over, I started rehearsing for the next musical project, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. On the 9th May I was part of the Malta EU Presidency Choir, who together with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir we sang this beautiful symphony with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the beginning of July rehearsals for Patience commenced; an opera written by Gilbert & Sullivan. This will be my first opera role as General Murgatroyd! Vocal rehearsals progressed well, while staging rehearsals will commence after a short summer break. Patience performances will be at the Salesian Theatre on the 30th September and 1st October.

I have just attended the first 3 master classes with the renowned Marco Mencoboni, a harpsichord & organ player and conductor specialising in Baroque music, as part of The Monteverdi Project. These monthly master classes will lead to a concert on the 21st December.