The audience is invited to join KorMalta (Malta’s national choir) on an itinerant concert through the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta. A selection of choral 16th century works will be presented in different courtyards, halls and staircases, to create a site specific experience enhanced by the magnificent Baroque architecture of the venue. The programme, selected by choirmaster Riccardo Bianchi consists of madrigals and hymns composed to celebrate battle victories across Europe, including the victory of the great siege of Malta of 1565. 

Programme

Andrea Gabrieli

Sento un rumor

First published: 1587 

Clement Janequin

La Guerre

First published: c.1528

Fernando de las Infantas

Congregati sunt

Pro victoria in turcas obsidionis A.1565

Josquin Desprez

Adieu mes Amour 

First published: 1501 in Harmonice Musices Odhecaton

Cristobal de Morales

Missa quatuor vocibus super l’Homme Arme 

First published: 1544 in Missarum, Liber primus

Biographies

Kor Malta

Photo: Sebio Aquilina

KorMalta, Malta’s National Choir, is a cultural organisation under the National Agency for Performing Arts within the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government. Established in 2018, it has become a versatile choral group, adept in various genres from a cappella polyphony to operatic symphonies. The choir has showcased performances, including collaborations with esteemed conductors and ensembles such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Brian Schembri and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Holst’s The Planets conducted by Michalis Economou, and Mozart’s Great Mass conducted by Peter Manning. In the realm of opera, KorMalta has staged productions like Otello and Tosca by Rossini and Puccini respectively, and participated in prestigious festivals such as the Illica Festival. Noteworthy collaborations extend to the Valletta International Baroque Festival, where they've presented performances of Baroque masterpieces. Additionally, the choir engages in a diverse range of projects, from ancient polyphony research to innovative collaborations with visual artists and dancers. KorMalta also prioritises professional development, offering masterclasses and workshops led by local and international tutors. Under the artistic direction of Riccardo Bianchi, supported by voice leaders Marouska Attard, Bianca Simone, and Albert Buttigieg, the choir continues to enrich Malta’s cultural landscape.

Website: www.kormalta.mt/

Riccardo Bianchi

Riccardo Bianchi is an Italian choir and orchestra conductor. After having carried out his choral conducting studies at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Turin, he was awarded with the “Diploma di Merito” in 2015 and 2016 from the Accademia musicale Chigiana di Siena with Roberto Gabbiani. He has been furthering his musical training at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena where he studies orchestra conducting with Gianluigi Gelmetti.  He graduated in Choral Conducting with Dario Tabbia, Orchestra Conducting with Antonino Fogliani and he is graduated with honours in Philosophy.

Credits

Choir - KorMalta

Choir Conductor - Riccardo Bianchi

In collaboration with KorMalta and Heritage Malta