Programme Notes

Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF) presents the second edition of “Young Creatives in Motion”. MIAF is passionate about bringing young dancers together to create a truly inspirational programme of live performances, encouraging young dancers from a range of dance genres to present their work in a professional environment. This event also aims to discover emerging talent and skills in young dancers and choreographers across the island, raise standards and improve progression in dance on a national scale and support the teachers and leaders who deliver dance both in and out of school settings. This national platform essentially encourages the next generation of dance artists and leaders. “Young Creatives in Motion” will present six new choreographies set to a live music recital of piano works and saxophone piano duets by Manuel de Falla, Jean-Philippe Rameau, György Ligeti, Claude Pascal, Philip Glass and George Gershwin.

Young Creatives in Motion - The Malta International Arts Festival 2023

Programme

Manuel de Falla

Siete Canciones Populares Españolas 

I. El paño moruno

II. Seguidilla murciana

III. Asturiana

IV. Jota

V. Nana

VI. Canción

VII. Polo

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Nouvelles Suites de Pieces de Clavecin 

XIII. Les Sauvages 

XIV. L'Enharmonique 

XV. L'Egyptienne 

György Ligeti

Five pieces for Piano Four-Hands (selection)

I. March

III. Three Wedding Dances

IV. Sonatina  

V. Allegro 

Claude Pascal

Sonatine 

Philip Glass 

Prophecies (from Koyaanisqatsi)

George Gershwin

Three Preludes 

I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso

II. Andante con moto

III. Agitato

Biographies

Attard–Zerafa Duo

The Attard-Zerafa saxophone and piano duo hails from the Maltese Islands and was formed in 2011 by Gozitan saxophonist Philip Attard and Maltese pianist Christine Zerafa. Since then they have been performing extensively in Europe and the United States, and have appeared in important festivals and venues including the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and St John Smith Square, to name a few. They have won several prestigious competitions and awards, following which they have been engaged to perform extensively across the UK as Tunnell Trust Artists and Park Lane Group Artists, as well as through the Countess of Munster Scheme, Tillett Trust and Royal Overseas League. Following their postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London, they are now based in Malta where they are highly in demand as performers.

Gabi Sultana

Photo: Benn Deceuninck

Gabi Sultana, is an internationally acclaimed soloist and chamber musician, especially within the contemporary music scene. Her passion and ability to bring contemporary compositions to the public have earned her rave reviews from around the globe. Gabi’s performances have brought her to many prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including, Carnegie Hall in New York [USA], Canberra International Music Festival and Peninsula Summer Music Festival[AU]; Hamamatsu World Music Festival [JP]; Ars Musica in Brussels [BE]; De Link in Tilburg [NL];  Festival Frammenti in Rome [IT]; InnerSound New Arts Festival in Bucharest [RO], Teatru Manoel in Valletta [MT] to name a few. Whilst living in Ghent [BE], Gabi became the pianist of SPECTRA Ensemble - one of Belgium’s leading contemporary music ensembles. Together they performed at most major concert halls in Belgium and The Netherlands, as well as at many renowned international contemporary music festivals. 

Joanne Camilleri

Joanne’s performances have taken her around Europe as soloist and chamber musician, as well as in Asia and America as orchestral pianist with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Through her versatile repertoire, she regularly collaborates with international and local artists in various chamber music formations and performing different genres. Joanne also plays the harpsichord, which was spurred by her doctoral thesis which focused on Bach’s Goldberg Variations and elements of the Baroque era. Joanne has been awarded many prizes throughout the years, is an ABRSM International Scholarship holder, a prize-winning Bachelor and Masters graduate from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, and the first pianist to graduate from the University of Malta with a Doctorate in piano performance. Her performances have been described as “master[ing] immense energy, deep musicality, an amazing technique and concentration” (Times of Malta), “combin[ing] the secure touch of a seasoned performer” (backtrack).

Young Creatives in Motion - The Malta International Arts Festival 2023 

Photos: Darren Agius

Credits

Siete Canciones Populares Españolas 

Musicians - Attard-Zerafa Duo - Piano & Saxophone

School - Seeds

Choreographer - Marisha Bonnici

Nouvelles Suites de Pieces de Clavecin 

Musicians - Joanne Camileri - Piano

School - Dance Conservatoire

Choreographer - Johane Casabene

Five pieces for Piano Four-Hands (selection)

Musicians - Gabi Sultana & Joanne Camilleri - Piano

School - Company of Dance Arts

Choreographer - Sara Bianchi

Sonatine 

Musicians - Attard-Zerafa Duo - Piano & Saxophone

School - Yada Junior Dance Company

Choreographer - Rosario Ranieri & Felix Busuttil

Prophecies (from Koyaanisqatsi)

Musicians - Gabi Sultana - Piano

Arrangement for solo piano - Gabi Sultana

School - The Dance Workshop

Choreographer - Jade Farrugia

Three Preludes 

Musicians - Attard-Zerafa Duo - Piano & Saxophone

School - The Collage of Dance

Choreographer - Justin Roy Barker