The Bank of Valletta is supporting the second edition of the International String Orchestra Festival which includes two performances by the Rotterdam Young Ensemble on the 27th of April at the Gozo Cathedral and on the 29th of April at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

The aim of these concerts is to create an artistic collaboration between the International String Orchestra Festival, the Rotterdam Young Ensemble and the Orquestra do Norte, Portugal. An important chapter in this collaboration was when Emanuel Salvador, the leader of the Orquetra do Norte, commissioned Karl Fiorini to write a violin concerto which was premiered in Rotterdam on the 13th of March and subsequently performed in Porto on the 18th of April. It is now also premiering in Malta.

Joyce Tabone, Manager, Quality and CSR at Bank of Valletta presented the Bank’s sponsorship to Karl Fiorini during a visit to the Manoel Theatre. “Bank of Valletta is proud to be associated with this event which will also include the performance of a composition by a young Maltese composer,” said Ms Tabone. “Our support underlines the importance that Bank of Valletta gives towards the promotion of Maltese artistic talent,” she added.

Thanking Bank of Valletta for its support, Mr. Fiorini outlined the objectives of his initiative. “The International String Orchestra Festival is aimed at promoting the cultural exchange between Malta, and other countries with a rich and plural cultural life,”  he said. “These two concerts will feature works by Mozart, Bach, Haydn, Stravinsky, Wagner, the Violin Concerto and a composition for Strings by the Greek composer Konstadinos Chizaris,” explained Mr. Fiorini. He added that for 2009 a more ambitious event is being planned featuring the European Union Chamber Orchestra and other international artistes such as Helene Dautry (Violoncello-France), Yuko Inoue (Viola-UK/Japan) and Joanna Frankel (Violin-USA), amongst others with daily concerts and master classes.