Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532272
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 FEBRUARY 2025 3 CULTURE THE second in Pjazza Teat- ru Rjal's Iljieli fit-Teatru '25 – Chamberfest – series is dedi- cated to the saxophone. Ever since its invention in the mid- 19th century, the saxophone has proved its versatility in bands, jazz, and classical mu- sic alike. In the field of cham- ber music, the saxophone-pi- ano combination has been a favourite of many a composer as will be amply examplified by saxophonist Philip Attard, who will be accompanied on the piano by Christine Zerafa. The programme showcases a diverse range of styles and cultural influences while high- lighting the virtuosity and ver- satility of both instruments. Jules Demersseman's Fantasie Sur un Thème Original opens with lively flair, followed by Camille Saint-Saëns' Sonata for Oboe and Piano in an ar- rangement for saxophone, of- fering rich contrasts between lyrical and lively movements. Charles Camilleri's Three Folk Songs explores Mediterranean rhythms, while Manuel de Fal- la's Siete Canciones Populares Españolas brings Spanish folk melodies to life through evoc- ative piano and instrumental textures. Robert Muczynski's Sonata Op. 29 offers modern intensity, concluding with Pe- dro Iturralde's lively Pequeña Czarda, a playful Hungari- an-inspired piece. Concert starts at 19:30h. En- trance for the concert will be from Casa Cassar, Triq il-Vit- torja, Valletta. For tickets and more information about this series visit www.pjazzateatrur- jal.mt or follow Pjazza Teatru Rjal's social media. Iljieli fit-Teatru '25 – Chamberfest Displaying Siena: The National Gallery exhibitions on the Medieval and Renaissance city in 2007 and 2025 SEMINAR with Prof Donal Cooper (University of Cam- bridge) and Prof Fabrizio Nev- ola (University of Exeter) con- vened by Prof Charlene Vella In 2025, two significant ex- hibitions will spotlight Italian Trecento (14th century) paint- ing. The first, "A New Look at Cimabue: At the Origins of Italian Painting", is current- ly on display at the Louvre in Paris until 12 May 2025. This marks the Louvre's inaugural exhibition dedicated to Cima- bue, a pivotal 13th-century art- ist renowned for introducing naturalism into Western paint- ing. The exhibition features approximately forty works, in- cluding the recently restored Maestà and the newly acquired Christ Mocked, rediscovered in 2019. The second exhibition, "Sie- na: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350", will open on 8 March at the National Gallery of Art in London and will run until 22 June 2025. This exhi- bition celebrates the golden era of Sienese art, showcasing masterpieces by artists such as Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers. Nota- bly, it reunites dispersed pan- els from Duccio's monumental Maestà and Simone Martini's Orsini Polyptych, offering a comprehensive view of early 14th-century Sienese painting. In conjunction with these ex- hibitions, Prof. Charlene Vella from the University of Malta's Department of Art and Art History will host a seminar fea- turing distinguished scholars Prof. Donal Cooper (University of Cambridge) and Prof. Fab- rizio Nevola (University of Exe- ter). Prof. Cooper will contrast the National Gallery's current exhibition on Trecento art with its 2007 exhibition, "Renais- sance Siena: Art for a City", and will also discuss Cimabue, ref- erencing the Louvre's exhibi- tion. Prof. Nevola will examine perceptions of Sienese art dur- ing the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, highlighting both the continuity and inno- vative qualities present across these periods. This seminar promises to provide valuable insights into the evolution of Italian paint- ing and the enduring legacy of Sienese artists.