InClassica Malta International Music Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with star-studded line-up

InClassica Malta International Music Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with star-studded line-up

17 April – 11 May 2021 33 Soloists including Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capuçon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Andreas Ottensammer, Grigory Sokolov and Maxim Vengerov among others 

InClassica Malta International Music Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with star-studded line-up

17 April – 11 May 2021 

33 Soloists including Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capuçon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Andreas Ottensammer, Grigory Sokolov and Maxim Vengerov among others 

8 Orchestras including Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège and others directed by Gergely Madaras, Alexander Shelley, Dmitry Yablonsky, Sergey Smbatyan and other leading conductors 

Alexey Shor is the Festival’s Composer-in-Residence 

InClassica Malta International Music Festival has established itself as one of the world’s leading music festivals, and for its 10th year anniversary edition is offering music lovers a star-studded line-up in Malta’s historic capital Valletta. 

Soloists scheduled to appear in the festival represent  some of the biggest names in classical music, and include piano legends Martha Argerich and Grigory Sokolov alongside Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capuçon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Andreas Ottensammer and Maxim Vengerov. 

As well as the local Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Malta Youth Orchestra, visiting orchestras will include the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Russian National Orchestra and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, with conductors Gergely Madaras, Marius Stravinsky, Michael Francis, Alexander Sladkovsky, Alexander Shelley, Dmitry Yablonsky, Gianluca Marciano and Sergey Smbatyan. 

The three-weeks-long festival will present concerts in one of Malta’s oldest and most beautiful 16th century buildings, the Mediterranean Conference Centre, and is organised by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the European Foundation for the Support of Culture (EFSC) which promotes cultural and educational projects throughout the continent. Its President, Konstantin Ishkhanov, said: 

After such a difficult year for so many musicians and music-lovers the EFSC is thrilled to be able to offer three weeks of outstanding music-making from some of the world’s finest musicians. The setting in Malta couldn’t be more beautiful, and visitors are guaranteed a cultural experience that is unique to this enchanting Mediterranean island.”  

The 2021 programme celebrates classic works and composers alongside contemporary pieces from the Festival’s Composer-in-Residence, Alexey Shor, who currently holds residencies with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Academie and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Shor’s works are programmed throughout the Festival including the suite from his “Crystal Palace” ballet which was played at the opening of the 40th anniversary of the Gramophone Awards ceremony, and the world premiere of his new Violin Concerto. 

This year’s festival will also feature the ‘Classic Piano’ International Competition in Malta with a total prize fund of 300,000 EUR, as well as the festival’s Malta Classical Music Academy. More details on both of these initiatives will be published soon. 

For more information visit http://www.inclassica.com 


Full Schedule: 

17 April 2021Sergey SmbatyanMalta Philharmonic Orchestra & Jerusalem Symphonic Orchestra 

Shor: “Images from the Great Siege”Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker 

18 April 2021Martha ArgerichAkiko EbiDmitry YablonskyJerusalem Symphony Orchestra 

Mendelsohn: Italian symphony Ravel: Left Hand ConcertoBeethoven: No. 1, op 15 

19 April 2021Stella Chen 

Carmen Giannattasio Gianluca MarcianoJerusalem Symphony Orchestra 

Verdi: Nabucco Overture Verdi: Vespri Siciliani OvertureShor: Phantasms Shor: “Crystal Palace” Suite 

20 April 2021Gary Hoffman Severin von EckardsteinDmitry YablonskyJerusalem Symphony Orchestra 

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5Dvorák: Cello Concerto 

21 April 2021Sergey DogadinSergey SmbatyanRussian National Orchestra 

Shor: “Four seasons of Manhattan”Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo CapricciosoRavel: TzyganeRachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 

22 April 2021Steven Isserlis Anna TifuMarius StravinskyRussian National Orchestra 

Saint-Saens: Concerto No.1Rimsky-Korsakov: Suite from “The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya” Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 

23 April 2021Julia ZilberquitDavid Aaron Carpenter 

Dmitry YablonskyRussian National Orchestra 

Beethoven: Leonore Overture N3, C majorBeethoven: Piano Concerto in E flat major Shor: “Two songs for my kids”  for viola and orchestraBartók: Concerto for viola and orchestra Strauss: “Don Juan” 

24 April 2021Denis MatsuevAlexander SladkovskyRussian National Orchestra 

Rachmaninoff - Piano concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances op.45 

25 April 2021Rudolf BuchbinderMichael FrancisDeutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Brahms: The Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15.Dvorák: Slavonic Dances op.72" 

26 April 2021Andreas OttensammerMichael FrancisDeutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Holmes: Pologne Symphonic PoemShor: Clarinet concertoDvorák: Symphony ?7 in D Minor, op. 70 

27 April 2021Gidon KremerGiedre DirvanauskaiteSergey SmbatyanDeutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Glass: Double concerto for violin, cello and orchestraDvorák: Symphony No.6 in D major, op. 60" 

28 April 2021Denis KozhukhinMichael FrancisDeutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz 

Shor: "Travel Notebook"Stravinsky: Firebird Suite 

29 April 2021Roman SimovichYeol Eum SonSergey SmbatyanMalta Philharmonic Orchestra 

Prokofiev: Excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet” Suites, Op.64 Prokofiev: Violin Concerto ?2Prokofiev: Piano Concerto ?3 

30 April 2021Andrey GugninLawrence PowerGergely MadarasOrchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Franck: Les Eolides Shor: Childhood Memories concertoMacMillan - Viola Concerto 

01 May 2021Leonard SchreiberGergely MadarasOrchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Shor: “Well-Tempered Chanson” Schumann: Symphony ?1 “Spring” 

02 May 2021Gautier CapuçonGergely MadarasOrchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège 

Lekeu: Fantaisie sur deux airs populaires angevinsFauré: Elegy for Cello & OrchestraShor: “Musical Pilgrimage”Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 

03 May 2021Yekwoon SunwooGergely MadarasOrchestre Philharmonique Royal de LiègeProkofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2Ravel: Ma Mère l’oye, ballet 

04 May 2021Daniel Hope Sergey SmbatyanMalta Philharmonic Orchestra 

Beethoven: Coriolan OvertureBruch: Violin Concerto No. 1Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7 

05 May 2021Kit ArmstrongAlexander ShelleyRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20Brahms: Symphony No. 2 

06 May 2021Danielle de NieseAlexander ShelleyRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Programme TBC 

07 May 2021Freddy KempfCarmine LauriSergey SmbatyanRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Shor: “From My bookshelf”Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2Tchaikovsky: excerpts from Swan Lake 

08 May 2021Maxim VengerovSergey SmbatyanRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Shor: Seascapes for violin and orchestraBeethoven: Symphony No. 7 

09 May 2021Grigory Sokolov- 

Programme TBC 

10 May 2021Sergey KhachatryanSergey SmbatyanArmenian State Symphony Orchestra 

Sibelius: Violin ConcertoKhachaturian: Symphony No.2 "The Bell Symphony" 

11 May 2021Daniel LozakovichSergey SmbatyanMalta Philharmonic Orchestra 

Shor: Violin Concerto in B-minor  (world premiere)Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet OvertureMussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition 

European Foundation for Support of CultureEuropean Foundation for Support of Culture (EFSC) is a non-profit organization established in Malta with the aim of organizing and promoting cultural and educational projects in Europe. 

Since its inception, the EFSC has registered an unprecedented portfolio of festivals, international music competitions, concert series, recordings, broadcasts, world premieres, productions, exhibitions and other cultural events in many different countries around the world. The calendar of?events reaches its climax with the Malta International Music Festival which is held every Spring. 

The main objectives of the Foundation are the organisation of festivals, competitions, special events, exhibitions, conferences, presentations, master classes, seminars, roundtables, concerts and other events and projects aimed at supporting and developing culture, increasing interest in various areas of modern art, promotion of young talented musicians and the search for gifted children. 

The promotion of classical music takes a special place in the activity of the Foundation. EFSC has presented a large number of classical music festivals not only in Malta, but?in more than 30 countries around the world. 

Alexey ShorAlexey Shor was born in Kiev in 1970, immigrated to Israel in 1991, and now lives primarily in the USA. His compositions have been performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls, including Wiener Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Mariinsky Theatre, Kremlin Palace, The Concertgebouw, Gasteig (Munich), Wigmore Hall, Teatro Argentina (Rome) and many others. 

Concerts of his music have been broadcast on MediciTV, Mezzo and Euronews. The Overture to his ballet Crystal Palace was performed at the 40th Gramophone Classical Music Awards in London. ?In 2018 he was awarded an honorary professorship at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. 

Shor’s scores are published by Breitkopf & Hartel and P.Jurgenson. Recordings of his compositions have been issued by Warner Classics, Decca, Sony Classics, Delos, Berlin Classics and Melodiya. 


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