Since its debut in 2013, the Valletta Baroque Festival has mesmerised audiences every January by assembling some of the best musicians and ensembles in the Baroque music scene. Under the direction of its founder and artistic director, Kenneth Żammit Tabona, the festival has cemented a place for itself in the annual cultural calendar. The festival is essentially a series of concerts spread over the course of about three weeks, each held in one of the many exquisite venues that epitomise Baroque architecture in Malta. 

This year’s edition promises a stellar line up made up of local and international talents alike. Some of the most highly-anticipated acts who will be taking the stage are Robin Pharo, Zefiro Ensemble, Alon Sariel, Holland Baroque with Wu Wei, Lucile Boulanger, Vox Luminis, and Les Contre-Sujets. The programme features 31 concerts held in just over 15 different enchanting venues around the island, including Verdala Palace in Siġġiewi, San Anton Palace in Attard, and St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Tonight, the festival will be inaugurated with a rendition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘St John Passion BWV 245’, in celebration of its tricentennial. The festival commissioned Kor Malta, the Valletta Baroque Ensemble, and several renowned local soloists, including Riccardo Bianchi, to perform the iconic piece. The concert is aptly being held at the opulent St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.