Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546020
10 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 31 JULY 2026 CULTURE Gozitan conductor Pierre Louis Attard to lead Vivaldi Festival finale in Venice GOZITAN conductor Pierre Louis Attard will lead the clos- ing concert of the sixth edition of the Vivaldi Festival in Venice 28 July 2026, conducting a spe- cial performance commemorat- ing the 285th anniversary of the death of Antonio Vivaldi. The concert takes place on the exact date of the composer's death in Vienna in 1741, bring- ing this year's festival to a close in the city most closely associ- ated with his life and musical legacy. Held in the historic Basili- ca dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, the concert will feature two of Vivaldi's most celebrated sacred works: the Gloria in D major, RV 589, for soloists, choir and orchestra, and Beatus Vir in B-flat major, RV 598, for so- loists, choir, strings and basso continuo. The programme will also include Giacomo Anto- nio Perti's Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi's instrumental work, the Sonata "Al Santo Sepolcro", RV 130. Attard will conduct the Vival- di Festival Orchestra and the Insieme Vocale Elastico Choir, prepared by Chorus Master Fabrizio Fucile, in what marks his second appearance at the Vivaldi Festival. He first per- formed at the festival in 2023 as solo violinist and now returns to Venice to conduct its pres- tigious closing concert. The engagement represents another significant internation- al milestone for the Maltese musician, who is establishing a growing reputation as both a violinist and conductor. Earlier this year, he made his conduct- ing debut abroad, leading an all-Bach string orchestra pro- gramme in Italy organised by the Associazione Musicale Dia- pason APS. The closing concert of this year's Vivaldi Festival, under the artistic direction of Enrico Castiglione, is presented in col- laboration with Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, continuing the artistic partnership between Castiglione and the Gozitan in- ternational music festival. Gozitan conductor Pierre Louis Attard Four Gozo beaches offer accessibility facilities for summer season FOUR beaches in Gozo are equipped with accessibility fa- cilities for the 2026 summer season, offering features aimed at making the coastline more ac- cessible to persons with disabili- ties and reduced mobility. Ramla l-Ħamra, Marsalforn, Ħondoq ir-Rummien and Xwe- jni Bay all feature accessible walkways, while additional fa- cilities vary by location. Ramla l-Ħamra offers accessi- ble toilets, beach wheelchairs, a lifeguard tower, Blue Badge parking and Blue Flag status. Marsalforn Beach is equipped with accessible toilets, beach wheelchairs, a lifeguard tower and Blue Badge parking. At Ħondoq ir-Rummien in Qala, visitors have access to accessible toilets, beach wheel- chairs, a lifeguard tower, Blue Badge parking and Blue Flag status. Xwejni Bay provides an accessible walkway, accessible toilets, beach wheelchairs and a lifeguard tower. Beach wheelchairs and access hoists are available at selected beaches during beach crew op- erating hours between 10:00am and 6:00pm. Visitors are en- couraged to pre-book by calling 2291 5000 between 8:00am and 12:00pm due to high demand. The information forms part of the list of accessibility facili- ties available at beaches across Malta and Gozo for the 2026 summer season. Beach wheelchairs and access hoists are available at selected beaches during beach crew operating hours between 10:00am and 6:00pm