Echoes of Latin Strings!

 Barocco Foundation, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, is proud to present a special lunchtime concert featuring acclaimed Maltese guitarist Bernard Catania. The concert will take place on Tuesday, 25 November at 12:30pm at the beautifully restored Church of Our Lady of Victory in Valletta — one of Malta’s oldest and most historically significant churches.

This vibrant musical programme will transport audiences across Latin America through a selection of evocative and technically rich works for classical guitar. Opening the concert are two iconic pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos – Prelude No. 1 and Chôros No. 1 – which blend Brazilian folk influences with a lyrical, modern classical style. These are followed by Preludio Tristón by Argentine composer Maximo Diego Pujol, a melancholic and expressive piece that reflects the soul of contemporary tango.

The concert continues with three short characterful pieces by Venezuelan composer Antonio Lauro – El Negrito, La Gatica, and Vals Venezolano No. 2 – beloved for their melodic charm and rhythmic vitality. Cuban composer Leo Brouwer adds a meditative depth with Un Día de Noviembre and the tender Canción de Cuna (Berceuse), showcasing his unique blend of modernism and lyricism.

The programme also includes the lively Sons de Carrilhões by Brazilian guitarist João Pernambuco, a piece filled with the bright syncopations of the choro tradition, and the lush romanticism of Agustín Barrios' Julia Florida, a lyrical tribute full of poetic nuance.

From the tango-infused elegance of Astor Piazzolla’s Verano Porteño (Summer in Buenos Aires) to the expressive and rhythmically engaging Evocación and Joropo from Suite del Recuerdo by Argentine composer José Luis Merlin, the concert offers a colourful journey through the soundscapes of Latin America, interpreted with sensitivity and flair by Bernard Catania.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Our Lady of Victory Church, this concert is part of the Barocco Foundation’s ongoing commitment to presenting high-quality classical music in historically rich settings, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, guardians of Malta’s national heritage.

Echoes of Latin Strings: will be held at Our Lady of Victory church, Valletta on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 12:30pm. Entrance to the concert is at a suggested donation of €13. One can obtain the tickets prior to the concert from the venue itself or by email: baroccobookings@gmail.com or phone 79680952.