Today, Tuesday 1 November, sees the welcomes return of Malta’s Three Palaces Early Opera & Music Festival. Taking place across ten days, the festival — a combined event featuring the Three Palaces Festival and Early Opera & Music Festival — presents eleven concerts featuring music by some of the world’s most well-known composers. Built on the premise that “our ordinary is actually extraordinary”, the event pays homage both to music and Malta’s stunning architecture, in a celebration of artistic excellence that sees concerts take place in various locations across Malta.

Tonight’s opening concert, entitled Quatour, is inspired by early twentieth century music such as impressionism, in addition to exoticism and art nouveau. The programme includes music by composers including Debussy, Ravel, Malcolm Arnold and Alex Vella Gregory, Jaeger and Sitt, as well as arrangements by MPO Principal Oboe, John McDonough, and feature Alexandre Razera (viola), Britt Arend (harp), Rebecca Farrugia Hall (flute) and John McDonough (oboe).