Malta International Arts Festival – Pianists & Composers: Piano works by Joseph Vella

Malta International Arts Festival – Pianists & Composers

Piano works by Joseph Vella

PROGRAMME

Paul Hindemtih                 Praeludium and Fuga prima in C from Ludus Tonalis                                       (1942)
Joseph Vella                6 Preludes op. 70 (1994)
                                       I Playfully
                                       II With a Sway
                                       III With Decision
                                       IV Dreamily
                                       V Sprightly
                                       VI With Simplicity
Joseph Vella                Sonatina op. 30 (1979)
                                       I Allegro Moderato
                                       II Andante, Quasi Recitativo
                                       III Allegretto
Joseph Vella                Scherzo op. 10 (1969)
Joseph Vella                Rapsodja Maltija op. 26 (1993)
Ludwig van Beethoven      Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor (Moonlight                                                     Sonata) (1801)
                                       I Adagio sostenuto
II Allegretto
III Presto agitato

Francis Camilleri – piano

General admission fee: €10
Concession fee: €10 (Children between 11-16 years, Senior Citizens 60+, persons with disability & students)
Age: 8+

https://www.festivals.mt/events1/pianists-%26-composers-1%2C-piano-works-by-joseph-vella

FRANCIS CAMILLERI, PIANO – Biography

Francis Camilleri formally commenced his pianoforte studies with Lucia Micallef and continued his tuition with Karen Briscoe, obtaining his Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music with distinction. He is currently in the final year of a doctoral degree from the University of Malta under the tuition of Michael Laus, focusing on the piano works of Joseph Vella. As part of the doctoral programme, Francis performed Vella’s Piano Concerto op. 41 with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra at the Manoel Theatre. Other recent performances include a solo recital at the President’s Palace in San Anton as part of the Valletta Baroque Festival and a solo recital in Teatru Manoel. Francis has also recently worked as a répétiteur and chorus master in operatic productions of Puccini’s Tosca and Turandot among others, collaborating with renowned artists such as Gregory Kunde and Barbara Frittoli. Francis will be the chorus master and répétiteur for Teatru Astra’s upcoming production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

JOSEPH VELLA, COMPOSER – Biography

Joseph Vella (1942–2018) was a Maltese composer, conductor, musicologist and University professor, widely regarded as one of Malta’s leading contemporary composer. Born in Gozo, he studied with his father and later continued his musical education in the United Kingdom and Italy, becoming a Fellow of the London College of Music and a graduate of the University of Durham. Vella’s output includes over 150 major works, ranging from symphonies, concertos and oratorios to chamber, choral and sacred music, many of which have been performed internationally and recorded on CD. Active as a conductor, he was the first resident conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and held long-standing posts with leading Maltese ensembles, while also playing a pivotal role in reviving early Maltese music. His distinctive neo-classical idiom and his commitment to Maltese musical life have left a lasting legacy.

Sunday, 14 June 2026

10.30am

Concert Hall of the Malta Society of Arts,
Palazzo de La Salle,
219, Republic Street,
Valletta

General admission fee: €10
Concession fee: €10 (Children between 11-16 years, Senior Citizens 60+, persons with disability & students)

Age: 8+