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Valletta Baroque Festival - Music & history in the heart of the Mediterranean
6
days
from
£3,780
Book today with a deposit from
£567
18th - 24th January 2027
Tour highlights
- Baroque music in one of the most complete and compact of Baroque cities.
- The concerts alternate with daily lectures by our musicologist and visits to Malta’s principal architectural and archaeological sites.
- The 2027 festival takes place in impressive Maltese venues, including Teatru Manoel and St John’s Co-Cathedral.
- Among the artists: Coro Gishlieri, Ljubica Stojanović, Venerem Ensemble, Redita Vox Ensemble.
Malta is a highly apposite setting for the performance of Baroque music. During this period the island was ruled by the Knights of Malta or Knights Hospitaller, Valletta was completely rebuilt and the knights themselves were vigorous patrons of the arts, including music and architecture.
One of Europe’s oldest working theatres is the Teatru Manoel, built in 1731 at the behest of the Grand Master of the order, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena. With only 600 seats, the theatre is a masterpiece of carpentry, with three tiers of wooden boxes, gilded and painted, and a trompe-l’oeil ceiling. Opera companies visited Malta regularly, performing works by Hasse, Piccinni and Galuppi. Other venues to host concerts during the festival include Verdala Palace, at Buskett, the summer residence of the Maltese president, and the striking St John’s Co-Cathedral, with one of most ornate Baroque interiors in Europe.
Valletta occupies a beautiful position on one of the world’s greatest natural harbours, and has fine buildings that still dominate the city. Our itinerary balances the concerts with lectures from our musicologist and visits and excursions to some of the great sites of the Maltese archipelago led by a local guide.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 11.30am (KM Malta Airlines) from London Heathrow. Drive to Valletta, a peninsula flanked by fine natural harbours and once the most strongly fortified city in Christendom. Some time to settle into the hotel before dinner. All six nights are spent here.
Morning lecture followed by a guided walk to introduce the city: survey the massive fortifications protecting the landward approach and view the Grand Harbour from the ramparts. Afternoon tour of the Teatru Manoel (subject to confirmation) before an early dinner and evening concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral: Da Pacem - Concert for Peace: Music by Magistrali, Lotti, Farina, Jommelli, Banchieri, Bettinelli, Palestrina. Giulio Prandi, Renato Cadel (directors), Coro Ghislieri, Coro Gregoriana Ghislieri.
A lecture precedes the midday recital at San Anton Palace, Attard, with rising star modern pianist: Bach Piano Transcriptions. Ljubica Stojanović (piano). Return to Valletta and visit the opulent Grand Master’s Palace and Armoury, once the seat of power for the Knights of St John, nowadays housing a superb collection of arms and armour. An evening concert at St Dominic Church: Bach/Telemann 1735. Meret Lüthi (violin, direction), Les Passions de l’Âme, Hana Blažíková (soprano), Anne Parisot (flute).
Morning lecture before driving out to Siġġiewi for the midday performance at Verdala Palace: Partita Dolorosa: Music by Montserrat, Purcell, Handel, Strozzi, Conti, Lully. Venerem Ensemble. In Valletta, the rest of the day is free, or attend the optional evening performance at the Casino Maltese: Music by Scott, Glass, Part, Stravinksy. Michael Laus (direction), Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
In Paola, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only prehistoric underground burial site in the world. The Tarxien Temples site is the most complex in Malta and would have been the most decorative. It was rediscovered by accident in 1902 and is the source of outstanding carved reliefs and statues. An afternoon lecture back in Valletta before dinner and returning to Teatru Manoel for this evening’s opera: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Handel). Antonio Florio (musical direction), Denise Mulholland (stage direction), Raffaele Pe (Giulio Cesare), Claire Debono (Cleopatra), Candida Guida (Cornelia), Giuseppina Fina (Sesto), Joel Vuik (Tolomeo), Matteo Loi (Achilla), Cristina D’Alessandro (Nireno), Carlo Feola (Curi).
A morning lecture then visit to the Co-Cathedral of St John, one of the most interesting of Baroque buildings with lavish carved wall decoration, ceiling paintings, magnificent tombs and two paintings by Caravaggio. Then on to St Mary Magdelen Church for the midday concert: Erato - The Muse of Music. Redita Vox Ensemble. Iris Faceto (viola da gamba), Rossella Pugliano (violin), Cecilia Innandrea (harpsichord). An early dinner in Birgu, across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, then the final concert at St Lawrence Church: Vulnerasti Cor Meum - Motets from the Song of Songs: Music by Valentini, Casati, Patta, Grandi, Tarditi, Monteverdi, Banci, Banchieri, Malgarini, Riccio, Leoni, Rovetta, Rigatti, Colombi. I Disinvolti Ensemble.
An optional visit to Muza, the National Museum of Art housed in the Auberge d’Italie, or a free morning, followed by an independent lunch. Fly to London Heathrow, arriving at c. 7.30pm.
Expert speaker
Professor John Bryan
Emeritus professor of Music at the University of Huddersfield, and a practising musician, he is a member of the Rose Consort of Viols and has performed with Musica Antiqua. An artistic adviser to York Early Music Festival, he founded the North East Early Music Forum, is chair of the Viola da Gamba Society and has been guest conductor of York Opera and The Academy of St Olave's. His book Early English Viols: Instruments, Makers and Music was published by Routledge in 2016. He has lectured on several previous Martin Randall Festivals.
More tours led by Professor John Bryan
Practicalities
Two sharing: £4,070 or £3,780 without flights. Single occupancy: £4,820 or £4,530 without flights.
Travel by private coach; accommodation as below; breakfasts, 4 dinners and with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all tips and taxes; the services of the lecturer, tour manager and local guide.
Music: tickets (top category) are included for 8 performances.
Hotel Phoenicia, Valletta: a 5-star hotel in Valletta, furnished with style and character, the best in Valletta and just outside the city gates. Rooms for solo travellers are doubles for sole use.
Visits on this tour include a fair amount of walking and standing. Valletta is very hilly and streets are roughly paved with frequent flights of steps. You will need to be comfortable with everyday walking and stair climbing. Average distance by coach per day: 6 miles.
Between 10 and 20 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
18th - 24th January 2027
Speaker:
Professor John Bryan
Price:
from £3,780
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“A really good combination of art, history, archaeology and music - perfect!
”
“Professor John Bryan is one of the best speakers we have encountered. His subject knowledge is remarkable. His lectures are appropriately academic, delivered with insight, engaging anecdote and humour. Timing and presentation are excellent.
”
“The itinerary was an excellent mix of gorgeous music, innovative interpretations, informative lectures, insights into Maltese culture and history, and time for independent exploration.
”
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