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8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 FEBRUARY 2026 CULTURE Choral concert at St George's Basilica AFICIONADOS are in for a treat on 16 February: St George's Basilica is host- ing The Byron Consort of Harrow School at 7.30 pm. Harrow boarding school was founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter and this is Harrow's elite chamber choir invited a few days ago to sing at one of the most important churches in Eng- land St George's Chapel Windsor. In Victoria the programme, directed by Philip Evans, in- cludes works by Bach, Bair- stow, Bruckner, Ireland, Palestrina, Philips, Tomkins and Vella. The date is near enough to the anniversary of the sudden demise of our own Joseph Vella and is in- cluded in the list of events for the annual celebration of Il-Ħaġar museum's inaugu- ration on 23 February 2013. As usual, there is no en- trance fee and all are invited. Valletta Baroque Festival 2026 draws record crowds THE Valletta Baroque Festival concluded on January 25 with record attendance, drawing 6,500 people from Malta and abroad, organizers said. The annual festival, pro- duced by Festivals Malta, ran from January 8 and featured 32 concerts that were met with strong audience response. The turnout further cements the festival's standing as one of the leading events on Europe's cultural calendar and a major platform for Baroque and early music. Now in its 14th edition and under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the festival hosted a wide range of prominent local and inter- national artists and ensem- bles. Performances were held in landmark venues including St John's Co-Cathedral and the Manoel Theatre, with full houses reported throughout the run. This year's programme in- cluded large-scale vocal and instrumental works, as well as the Baroque opera Pelopida by Girolamo Abos. The work, which was only recently re- discovered, was staged for the first time during this edition and was highlighted as one of the festival's major events. Among the internationally recognised performers fea- tured were violinists Carmine Lauri and Charlie Siem, Ger- man violinist Niklas Liepe, and the UK-based Tenebrae Choir. The Valletta Baroque Festival is organised by Festivals Mal- ta in collaboration with Teat- ru Manoel, with support from Visit Malta and the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government. Schweppes is listed as a sponsor. More information about the festival and other events or- ganised by Festivals Malta is available at the organisation's official website.