Arrival at leisure.

Recommended flight: KM Malta Airline | 9:50am Paris CDG – 12:45pm Valletta

Welcome, transfer and packing off at your hotel.

Free lunch.

Private transfer to your concert.

At 7:30pm, in the Basilica of St Paul, Rabat:

VIDI SPECIOSAM MASS, Tomás Luis de Victoria

Great Chapel Ensemble

The 16^th century was dominated by Spain’s Golden Age, and the arts were no exception. We for sure know the Baroque Theatre and the Don Quixote of Cervantès, but a remarkable tradition of Hispanic polyphonic music exists. Among these genius composers, we come across certainly one of the greatest musicians of the Renaissance,     Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611). In the magnificent Basilica of St Paul, Rabat, the Spanish ensemble The Great Chapel offers one of the eternal works of art of the Madrilenian composer, Vidi speciosam, inspired by the Song of Songs. As often in the Polyphonic music of the Gold Century, the emphasis is on the Virgin and Marian devotion, in the pages of a contrapuntal and harmonic purity.

Returning transfer to your hotel at the end of the concert.

Independent dinner.

La Fugue is at your disposal to book a table for you in Valletta. Our recommended addresses are in your travel book.

First night at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Go on a discovery of Valletta accompanied by your guide. Located on the north coast of the island, the Maltese capital was originally designed as a fortress by the Knights of the Order of St John, then built entirely in the 16th century on previously undeveloped land. Nowadays, this elegant city seduces by its unimpeded outlooks on the Mediterranean Sea and the richness of its architecture, marked by the great eras of the Maltese history. The city’s entrance was re-imagined by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano, offering a thrilling dialogue between modernity and Baroque legacy.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valletta embodies by itself the spirit of Malta; a unique country, the only one in the world entirely registered on this prestigious list.

At 12pm, concert in the National Library of Valletta:

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Reiko Ichise : Viola da Gamba

Liz Kenny : Cello

Since the success of the film Tous les matins du monde (All the mornings of the world) by Alain Corneau in 1992, Baroque music, and especially the Viola da Gamba underwent a resounding renaissance. From the artwork of Marin Marais and Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, the public rediscovered a compelling repertoire, embracing the sensibility of an era too often associated with the majesty of Louis XIV’s reign. It is at the intimacy and the emotion of these pages that Reiko Ichise (at the viola) and Liz Kenny (at the lute and cello) invite us for a concert in the National Library of Valletta. Just like a Baroque cabinet of curiosities, these two pioneers of “the historically informed interpretation” (also two distinguished professors at the prestigious Royal College of Music of London) reveal for our greatest happiness some rarities lovingly matched for their respective instruments.

Lunch and afternoon at leisure.

After the opening hours, enjoy an exclusive tour of the historic residence of a Maltese Knight. Built in 1580 for Don Pietro La Rocca, member of the Order, the palace la Casa Rocca Piccola is still accommodating the same lineage, and the family opened a part of the residence to the public in 1991. Welcomed by the 9^th baron of Budach and marquis of Piro themselves, you will explore around fifty sumptuously furnished rooms. You will there discover magnificent examples of furnishing, silverware and paintings that crossed four centuries of history, a real dive into the Maltese aristocracy.

Walk to the concert hall.

At 7:30pm, concert in the Maltese Casino of Valletta:

GOLDBERG VARIATIONS

Philharmonic Orchestra if Malta

Michael Laus : Conductor

Niklas Liepe : Violin

Niklas Liepe is one of the most original violinists of his generation. About the artwork of Bach, the German musician confides: “When I started playing the Partitas and Sonatas of Bach on the violin, I caught right away the singularity of this music. I quickly made the wish of confronting myself to the genius of this immense composer, while opening him new ways at the same time.” The result: Impressive Goldberg Variations for violins and string orchestra, where Niklas Liepe proposes his own review of this magistral artwork, originally written for two claviers, mixing new arrangements with original compositions. Johann Sebastian Bach’s music as you have never heard it!

Free dinner.

La Fugue is at your disposal to book a table for you in Valletta. Our recommended addresses are in your travel book.

Walk to your hotel.

Second night at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Accompanied by your guide, you will gain the peaceful city Rabat, where History is revealed at every alleyway. Adventure yourself in these narrow paths bordered by fine residences, of which the façades, golden with time, show this honey-coloured patina, typical of Maltese stone.

In the St Paul Rabat Cathedral, let yourself be amazed by the lively coloured stained glasses, the holy sculptures, and the lateral chapels, composing a radiant indoor and imprint of contemplation. Built on the very place where, according to the tradition, the apostle Paul would have taken refuge after his shipwreck in the year 60, it embodies one of the major places of the Christian fate in Malta. The tour will be extended by the adjacent museum, accommodating magnificent works of art carefully maintained.

Your exploration continues at the majestic palace of the 16^th century Casa Bernard. Even though it is not a museum, this private family residence conjugates architectural elegance and remarkable historic legacy. Previously a medieval watchtower built on Roman foundations, the house became a double-fronted palazzo in the middle of the 16^th century, enriched then by Baroque details. Key point of the tour: the welcoming encounter with your hosts, Georges and Josette Magri, passionate collectors, who will make you discover their universe full of art and bizarre objects.

Pursue your journey with the discovery of Mdina, fortified jewel perched on a hill. Accompanied by your guide, explore this city of an enchantment stunned in time, believed to be one of the most maintained medieval cities in Europe. Founded by the Phoenicians around the year 700 BC, it was the capital of Malta until 1530, thanks to its strategic location, far away from the coast. Renamed as Città Vecchia during the Roman Empire, Mdina still preserves a unique atmosphere.

You will then have the privilege to visit the Palazzo Falson with its conservator. This palace from the 13^th century, located in the middle of Mdina, was the residence of Olof Frederick Gollcher OBE (1889–1962), artist, officer, philanthrope and great collector. As a true hidden treasure, the Palazzo Falson accommodates a remarkable collection of books, artworks, and antiquities. A glimpse of this out of time place will not miss enchanting you.

Lunch during the flow of the tour at the Medina (payment on site on your own, according to your order).

Returning transfer at Valletta and free time.

Walk to the concert hall.

At 7:30pm, concert in the Manoel Theatre in Valletta:

PELOPIDA, by G. Abos

Arianna Art Ensemble

Giolio Prandi : Conductor

Brett Nicholas Brown : Staging

Here is a marvellous encounter under the sign of Malta! Built in 1731 by the Knights of Malta, the Manoel Theatre offers above all a remarkable lyric scene: it is in fact the third most ancient, and of the most intimate theatres in Europe. Born in 1715, the composer Girolamo Abos is an authentic Maltese. Left noticeably young to study music in Naples, he still preserves a deep devotion to his natal island, while undergoing success in all Europe thanks to his opera seria. One of his pieces of art, Pelopida, inspired by the Theban general who hunted the Spartans of Thebes before fighting for democracy in the city, is here a magnificent resurrection. Lifted by international musical strengths, this production also brings to light several Maltese artists concerned with defending a major facet of their cultural heritage.

Free dinner.

La Fugue is at your disposal to book a table for you in Valletta. Our recommended addresses are in your travel file.

Walk to your hotel.

Third night at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Accompanied by your guide, discover the temple of Ħaġar Qim, perched on a hill next to the southern sea of Malta, it is one of the most ancient and well-preserved megalithic sites in the island. Dating from 3600 to 3200 BC and a UNESCO World Heritage registered Site, it impresses by its huge standing stones and its mysterious sculptures, testifying an advanced prehistoric civilization.

Private transfer to your concert.

At 12pm, concert in the Palace Verdala of Siggiewi :

BACH TRANSCRIPTIONS

Arash Rokni : Piano

Built in 1586 by the great master of Verdala, the palace Verdala is first and foremost a magnificent concert hall. Splendid inside and out, it recently was used as a famous scene in the American saga Game of Thrones. In this Baroque collection, the Iranian pianist Arash Rokni delivers Bach transcriptions (father and son) of which he owns the secret. Great interpreter of the romantic repertoire, Rokni is also a literature passionate and an ardent defender of the communion between peoples and cultures.

Returning transfer to your hotel.

Lunch and afternoon at leisure.

La Fugue is at your disposal to book a table for you. We recommend the restaurant Marilu’s.

In late afternoon, meet with your guide for a private visit of the Saint-John’s Co-Cathedral, real Baroque jewel which embodies the legacy of the Saint-Jonh’s Knights in Valletta. Managed by those, its construction was landed to the architect Gerolamo Cassar, whereas Mattia Preti signed its sumptuous interior design. Finished in 1578 after a six-year construction, this co-cathedral remains the main Baroque-styled artwork in Malta. Indoors, the central nave’s marble-paved floor maintains the graves of 369 knights, including Jean Parisot de Vallette, founder of the Maltese capital.

Walk to the concert hall.

At 7:30pm at the Manoel Theatre of Valleta:

The roots of Napolitan music

Arianna Art Ensemble

Giacomo Biagi : Conductor

We often associate Naples to its famous songs. However, the Italian city plays an essential role in music history. Since the 17^th century, Naples establishes itself as one of the major musical centres in Europe. It was here in particular that the Baroque repertoire for harpsichord and transverse flute flourished, that the genres of opera seria and opera buffa were born, and that the era of castrati such as Farinelli reached its peak. Nowadays still, the Teatro San Carlo and composers as Scarlatti, Pergolesi and Porpora carry high the prestige of this famous Southern city of Italia. This fascinating musical and cultural background is introduced by the Palmerian Arianna Art, directed by Giacomo Biagi, in the fabulous showcase of the Manoel Theatre of Vallera.

Free dinner.

La Fugue is at your disposal to book a table for you in Valletta. Our recommended addresses are in your travel book.

Walk to your hotel.

Fourth night at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the airport.

Returning at leisure.

Recommended flight: KM Malta Airlines | 6am Valletta – 9am Paris CDG