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maltatoday SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018 This Week 41 ALBERT-G. STORACE TWO lunchtime recitals two days apart were those at the very unique, splendid venue provided by the Aula Capitulare of Mdina Cathedral and the main Hall at the National Li- brary (Biblijoteka) in Valletta. The former recital was presented by two young musicians from France, Jean Rondeau (harpsichord) and Thomas Dunford (theorbo). This duo re- vealed themselves as absolute mas- ters of their instruments. Both shared the music in equally balanced parts, performed with great versatility, virtuosity sensibility and with an utterly solid yet flexible rap- port. Their mutual understanding came close to perfection and this was the case throughout the many pieces they performed beginning with Rob- ert de Visée's Suite in D minor and continued with the complex journey through Les voix humaines by Marin Marais. Following that M. Dunford said a few words about the way the duo go about their interpretation. From then on the pieces on the pro- gramme were performed with barely a discernible break. This could easily have made one get lost in this rapid sequence of undoubtedly and excel- lently performed music. The works were by French masters of their craft like François Couperin ("Le Grand")'s mainly programmatic La Ménetou, Le Dodo and a rousing Passacaille. Jean-Henri d'Anglebert's Prelude in D minor and Sarabande Grave preceded a three-piece pres- entation by the Antoine Forqueray and his son Jean Baptiste in fine har- mony and balance. Jacques de Gal- lot's Passacaille "L'Espagnolette" was performed with particular vigour and energy. The recital ended with another Passacaille La Piemontoise by Louis Couperin, of an older gen- eration of that musical dynasty and the other composers above. As Jean Rondeau simply put it, the duo per- formed it because they liked it, and so did the audience. During the other lunchtime re- cital, J.S.Bach's ubiquitous Goldberg Variations were at it again, or rather this time, Musica Antiqua Latina were inspired into providing an ar- rangement this time for bass violin (Giordano Antonelli), Gianni La Marca (viola da gamba), Giancarlo De Frenza (violone) and harpsi- chord (Andrea Buccarella). It could possibly explain why the recital was dubbed "The darker side of the Goldberg Variations". There was nothing sinister about this arrangement, and any darkness therein was the tone of the three for- mer instruments when compared with the delicate sound of the harp- sichord. So, once again, this festival provided a chance to hear what an ongoing project which began in 2011 could come up with as regards the seemingly endless source of in- spiration provided by BWV 988. In its present form, this arrangement has been performed abroad to great critical acclaim. However, as Gianni La Marca said to me after the perfor- mance, "Musica Antiqua Latina has not said the last word about it." They intend to plumb deeper into the original work. The combina- tions were seemingly endless. Some- times some of the variations were performed by all four musicians, or any two or three of them, in others without the harpsichord, while the latter played solo in at least six vari- ations. The sequence was as varied as could be with different tempi, colours, moods and textures making for a superbly rich mine of invention. Two lovely concerts on January 21 respectively took place at Mdina Cathedral and Verdala. The midday one at the Cathedral of St Paul was marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Cathedral Archives for research. It was thanks to the work off various scholars that many previously forgotten Maltese com- positions of various periods were edited and revived. The late Fra' Richard Divall ed- ited a set of six sonatas Op. 1 by Mikelanġ Vella (1710-92) and the first of which, for three violins and continuo was performed by Nadya Debono, Carla Seidel and Sarah Spiteri with continuo provided by Jacob Portelli (cello) and Joanne Camilleri (organ). This was a styl- ish and polished performance which was followed by a no less accom- plished rendition of the Dialogo a due – Jubila Propera Festina for two sopranos, two violins and continuo. This work was edited by Joseph Vella, one of the first generation of researchers of the Cathedral Music Archives. Long considered as by an anonymous composer later research has strongly attributed it to one of the 17th century Balzano brothers. It was sung in a well-balanced fresh ex- change between sopranos Francesca Aquilina and Gillian Zammit. These two ladies were joined a by a third, alto Clare Ghigo in a Stabat Mater by Girolamo Abos, also edited by Joseph Vella. With strings and con- tinuo this very fine work brought the concert to a conclusion. As REMA President Xavier Vandamme was present, he presented REMA's award to a distinguished institution to Dr Anna Zareba who represented the Museo San Colombano of Bologna which houses the Tagliavini antique instruments collection. The lifetime achievement award was received by soprano Dame Emma Kirkby who joined the two sopranos and the orchestral ensemble in a verse from Handel's Dixit Dominus. The concert at Verdala Castle was by the ensemble Barocco di Napoli in works by composers from the (second) Habsburg period in Naples. It was dominated by a master virtuo- so of the flute, Tommaso Rossi, and the superbly phenomenal beauty of the voice of soprano Maria Grazia Schiavo, a lady who delighted aural and visual sensibilities. Led by Ros- sella Croce, the first taste of Tom- maso Rossi's prowess was sampled Mancini's G minor Concerto and with another soloist, Raffaele di Donna in A. Scarlatti's Sinfonia di Concerto Grosso N. 1 in D minor, for two flutes, and alone again in Sar- ri's Concerto in A minor. La Schiavo thrilled all in Mancini's Canta e di ca- ro usignolo from Trajano, and was all fury and tempestuously determined in Leo's Son qual nave in ria procella from Zenobia in Palmira. She also sang Pergolesi's Mentre dormi amor fomenti (Olimpiade), Chi disse ca la femmena (in Nea- politan, from Lo Frate 'Nnamorato) and Lieto così talvolta (Adriano). Yet more dizzy heights were reached in Vinci's V'o solcando from Artaserse. The encore was In volo così fido by Handel,with Tommaso Rossi playing the piccolo. Part Time Invigilators JobsPlus No: 136/2017 Profile Requirements: • 4 'O' Levels or an MQF Level 3 Qualification. • Good written and oral communication skills in English. • Able to understand provided exam procedures. • Able to attend for training organised and provided by MCAST as the need arises. • Able to understand seating layout plans. • IT skills will be highly considered. • First Aid techniques are also highly considered. Other Requirements: • Able to communicate with staff and students in an effective and calm manner. • Team Player and work on one's initiative. • Able to manage large groups of young people and adults. • Candidates with experience in invigilation will be given a preference. The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology invites applications for the post of Invigilators to administer, invigilate and supervise students sitting for various examinations within its various Institutes. Vacancies will only be filled if and when openings become available. Successful candidates will be called to fill existing vacancies in accordance with the order of merit. All interested candidates can create a candidate profile and apply for the post on the MCAST Job Portal accessible through the following link http://jobs.mcast.edu.mt/en/page/home. Incomplete and /or late applications with missing documentation will not be considered. JOIN THE MCAST TEAM VACANCY Technology Campus, Corradino Hill, Paola PLA 9032 Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology Administration Building, MCAST Main Campus, Corradino Hill, Paola PLA 9032 t. 2398 7100 | f. 2398 7316 | e. hr@mcast.edu.mt | www.mcast.edu.mt A taste of the Valletta International Baroque Festival Jean Rondeau and Thomas Dunford