Heart and Soul
The historic church of Our Lady of Victory in Valletta will once again host the popular weekly lunchtime concert organised by Barocco Foundation in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, on Tuesday 5 December 2023 at 12:30pm. This recital will feature Italian singer Bianca Simone accompanied by pianist and conductor Riccardo Bianchi on the church’s 18th Century organ and keyboard.
The heart and soul of the title are those of Bianca who will lead us through her musical experiences and preferences. The commendable duo will guide us through a journey that unfolds from the baroque soul of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi to the spirituality of contemporary authors, and from the love of chamber music to the passion of a repertoire that borders on pop and ending with a timeless classic.
This delightful programme includes timeless compositions by two Baroque masters, G.F Handel and J.S. Bach: Oh Thou that tellest good tidings from ‘The Messiah’ which is Handel’s masterpiece, followed by Esurientes implevit bonis and Prelude and Fugue in C Minor which showcases J.S. Bach’s exceptional ability to evoke emotions through his music. The enticing programme will proceed with Nisi Dominus from “Nisi Dominus” by A. Vivaldi conveying Vivaldi’s genius for creating captivating melodies and Dans un Bois Solitaire by W.A. Mozart which invites us to delve into the enchanting world of Classical music.
Two highlights from this concert are Les Berceaux by G. Fauré and Ave Maria Gratia Plena by contemporary British composer David Lewison Sharpe who is making a name in the world of classical music. These will be followed by Marco Frisina’s Magnificat and Ennio Morricone’s Deborah’s Theme. This eclectic recital comes to an end with a beloved classic song, Summertime from ‘Porgy and Bess’ by G. Gershwin and M.P. Costa’s Era da Maggio which adds an interesting contrast with its Italian influence.
Bianca Simone was born in Naples but always lived in Padua. She is a singer and teacher of Renaissance, Baroque and Chambe Music. After her master’s degrees in Lyrical Singing and Vocal Chamber music she has collaborated for years as a madrigalist and soloist with some to the most prestigious ensembles in the Italian and international music scene. In 2021 she came to Malta for an audition for KorMalta, and was immediately hired as a chorister, soloist and voice leader at the National Choir.
Riccardi Bianchi hails from Varese, Italy and graduated from the Conservartorio G. Tartini in Trieste in orchestra conducting under Antonino Fogliani and holds a post-master’s degree from the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano. He furthered his music studies at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, where he studied orchestra conducting. He was also awarded with two Special Commendations at the London 2015 Conducting competition as the best Beethoven’s performer competition. He is the Artistic Director and Chorus Master of KorMalta – Malta’s National Chior.
The Church of Our Lady of Victory, with its painted ceiling by baroque artist Alessio Erardi, is the first church of Valletta and a magnificent setting for the cultural events. It was built by Grand Master de Valette and the Order of St John after their victory in the Great Siege of 1565. It has been restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa, voluntary National Trust of Malta.
After the concert, patrons are invited for free to the cellar of the church to watch a short documentary about the building, history, and the restoration of this gem.