Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/776046
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2017 This Week 33 WHAT'S ON Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:30. The exhibition brings together two hundred snuff boxes and related artefacts, sourced from museum, ecclesiastical and never-seen-before private collections in a show that charts the history of the snuff box from the most stunning examples to the variety of boxes that were created to hold the once precious powder, snuff. Organised in collaboration with Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge. More information: www.palazzofalson. com. THEATRE FEBRUARY 9 National Theatre Live in Cinema: No Man's Land Live transmission of the Harold Pinter play No Man's Land at Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, Valletta at 19:30. Featuring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and directed by Sean Mathias. Bookings: http:// bit.ly/2gIl8vS. FEBRUARY 22 RSC in Cinema: The Tempest Live transmission of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest at Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, Valletta at 19:30. Starring Simon Russel Beale and directed by Gregory Doran. In a unique partnership with Intel, the most advanced technology will be adopted into a bold reimagining of Shakespeare's magical play. Bookings: http://bit.ly/2ht7MmE. Sicily ensemble headlines Malta Cultual Institute's first concert for the season Soprano and piano recital at The Franciscan Oratory, Valletta The Malta Cultural Institute's first concert for the year was held at the Hotel Imperial Sliema, seat of its monthly concerts, on January 8. Con- cert co-ordinator and presenter Marie Thérèse Vassallo announced a surprise and this materi- alised into the splendid sound of the Pipes and Drums of The Marsa Boy Scouts Group led by Alex Cutajar. Scottish-style pipes and drums always create a stir with their exciting sound and no less on this occasion. Pipers and drum- mers were very well-received as were a number of dancers from Helen Keith's school of ballet whose dancing added a Celtic touch. The concert proceeded with a song and aria recital by tenor George Saliba accompanied by pianist Anthony Sammut. I do not think that the singer was completely well, but he carried on bravely. I could also suggest that whenever there are singers taking part use of the micro- phone should be dispensed with because the ceiling is low and acoustics suffer. A great treat was in store in the concert's second half with a brilliant performance of music by Astor Piazzolla. Passionate and sul- try at times, almost enervating but frequently highly rhythmic and exciting, this music was interpreted by the Sicily Ensemble under the artistic direction of Franco Foderà, who is an old friend of the MCI. The members of the en- semble are Daniele Collura (piano accordion), Antonella Scalia (violin), Giuseppe D'Antone (vibraphone), Alberto Fiorentino (double-bass) and Giovanna Mirrione (piano). These are very highly accomplished musicians, with some showing real prowess as virtuoso performers such as the accordionist and vibraphone play- er. This is not to diminish the importance of the violinist and pianist and highly supportive double-bass player. They performed Mumu- ki, Oblivión, Escualo, Ave Maria (arr. Franco Foderà) with soloist Marie Thérèse Vassallo (encore later); then Invierno, Primavera and a brilliant grand finale with Libertango in which Franco Foderà joined his wife at the piano. This ensemble was definitely the concert's cherry on the cake. The Barocco Foundation led by Miriam Agius, continues with its series of Tuesday lunchtime concerts at the lovely 17th century oratory of St. Francis Church in Valletta's Republic Street. They have become increasingly well-attended events patronised by, apart from local music- lovers, by foreign visitors and in a big way too. Nothing could be better than to enjoy a break in this way during a visit to the city. When I first heard young soprano Christa- belle Formosa some time ago I felt she was a singer with some promise. Therefore I could not let this opportunity go by and I was more than glad I did not miss the event. She was ac- companied at the piano by Ramona Zammit Formosa (no relation as far as I know). An ex- cellent accompanist, Ms. Zammit Formosa per- formed two solos with great flair. The first was Chopin's Mazurka in B flat, Op. 7, N. 1, a great favourite with pianists and audiences alike. Then there was a touch of impressive virtuosity in the anonymous Fantasy on a Hungarian Folk Tune which was much akin to a csárdás with a theme which is echoed in one of the more fa- miliar Lisztian rhapsodies. Christabelle Formosa is fulfilling some of her innate promise. She has a most pleasant tim- bre, a clear voice with certain very attractively mellow darker hues. There is also a certain amount of smooth handling of the idiomatic variety in her choice. Her phrasing and breath control are pretty good, almost perfect if she could sustain concluding notes a little more as was needed on two or three oc- casions. Nevertheless the power and conviction of her interpreta- tion never lacked as she proved in three of Bellini's delightful ariette, namely Ma rendi pur content, Per pietà bell'idol mio and Vaga luna, che in argenti. She was in assertive form in Handel's Farewell, ye lim- pid Springs, from Jephta as well as in the challenging Mascagni piece Son pochi fior from L'amico Fritz. Few sopranos could resist singing Puccini's O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi. Tech- nically she did it well although it could have been even more successful had it been taken in a more tongue in cheek manner. However she scored a great success in her singing in Czech and mostly by heart three of Dvořák's Op. 55 cycle of seven Gypsy Songs (Cigánské Melodie). The immortal N.4, Songs my Mother taught me (Když mne stará Matka) had great pathos, N.5, Come and join the Dancing (Struna naladĕna) and the equally lovely N.7 Give a Hawk a Fine Cage (Dejte klec jestřábu ze zlata ryzéno. N. 5 was given as an encore; my Czech is nil except for some pronunciation but it all sounded so good. A lady from the USA sitting next to me summed it up by saying knowingly "That girl has a Czech soul!" Concert reviews by Albert G. Storace Christabelle Formosa Sicily Ensemble Pianist Sofia Narmania will be performing during a lunchtime concert