Malta and Gozo are renowned for their wealth of Baroque structures and buildings. Built during the 17th and 18th centuries, they have left an impressive mark on the Maltese Islands and remain a wonder to visit, especially during January, when they become splendid backdrops for the annual Valletta Baroque Festival.
During this period the island was ruled by the Knights of Malta or Knights Hospitaller, Valletta was completely rebuilt and the knights themselves were vigorous patrons of the arts, including music and architecture.
Among the notable backdrops for the festival is one of Europe’s oldest working theatres, Teatru Manoel, constructed in 1731 at the behest of the Grand Master of the Order, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena. With only 600 seats, its three tiers of wooden boxes, gilded and painted walls, and a trompe-l’oeil ceiling are breathtaking. Opera companies visit Malta regularly and perform here.
Other venues hosting concerts during the Valletta Baroque Festival include Verdala Palace, the summer residence of the Maltese president, St John’s Co-Cathedral and Palazzo Parisio.
First introduced in January 2013, the 30-plus-concert event has become an anticipated winter spectacle. The forthcoming edition is scheduled for between 10 and 24 January 2025, and now’s the time to grab your tickets.
Festivals Malta organizes the three-week Baroque bonanza every year, and it’s become a quintessential Maltese cultural experience.
The full programme and ticket purchase info can be found here, but we’ve highlighted a few concerts and locations below.
St John’s Co-Cathedral is one of a few stunning venues hosting concerts this January. (Photo By Pedro J Pacheco – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Valletta Baroque Festival 2025 Highlights
Thursday 9 January
Alessandro Scarlatti – Oratorio La Giuditta – 300th Anniversary, ViBE dir. Steven Devine, 7:30 p.m., St John’s Co-Cathedral
The Valletta Baroque Festival will open with Alessandro Scarlatti’s “La Giuditta,” composed in 1693 with a libretto by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, considered to be Scarlatti’s finest oratorio.
Friday 10 January
The Mad Lover: Thomas Dunford and Thèotime Langlois de Swarte 7.30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
The inconsolable ‘Mad Lover’ is a collection of music put together Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Thomas Dunford as a character from the reign of Charles II: a tale told through music from the pen of such violin virtuosos of the time.
Sunday 12 January
Combattimento 400 (Musica Antiqua Latina) 6.30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
The Combattimento 400 project reinterprets Clorinda and Tancredi’s drama, celebrating its 400th anniversary by exploring Clorinda’s identity and Eastern music, emphasizing shared cultural codes and universal poetics against cancel culture.
The Teatru Manoel is a Valletta treasure (Photo by Dillonabela5 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tuesday 14 January
Bach Violin Concertos: 7.30 pm, Teatru Manoel
Explore Bach’s rare yet cherished violin concertos performed by virtuosos Charlie Siem and Carmine Lauri with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor – Michael Laus.
Wednesday 15 January
M Stabat Mater (Dance): Valletta Baroque Ensemble and Inbal Oshman Dance 7:30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
Choreographer Inbal Oshman explores motherhood’s complexity through the Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s famous Stabat Mater, capturing the fierceness of grieve and the vulnerability of motherhood through dance.
Thursday 15 January
La Confraternita de’ Musici, Divine Bellezze – I Mottetti Sacri Napoletani, 7.30 p.m., Basilica of Saint Dominic & Porto Salvo
This concert explores the ethereal beauty of sacred Neapolitan motets. Numerous churches and convents, inspired by wars and disasters, show Southern Italy’s 17th-century religious devotion, which influenced both spiritual and historical musical practices.
Friday 17 January
BACHianas: SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet 7.30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
Bach with a South American flavour. Music by Bach, Ginastera, Villa-Lobos and Piazzolla was transcribed for the saxophone quartet.
Saturday 18 January
I Concerti per il Duca di Maddaloni: Confraternita de’ Musici. 7:30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
The cello emerged late in Naples but flourished in the early 18th century, producing exceptional virtuosos and transforming the city into a European centre for the instrument, supported by patrons like the Duke of Maddaloni.
Sunday 19 January
Children’s Concert (for families): Le Petite Ecurie 10.00 a.m., Teatru Manoel
Miriam, Valerie, Giovanni, Marc, and Philipp perform with oboes, taille, bassoon, and percussion, blending baroque music and theatrical elements in a children’s concert.
Verdala Palace serves as the official summer residence of the President of Malta (photo by EM21869 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tuesday 21 January
Children’s Concert Le Petite Ecurie 12 p.m. Verdala Palace
Miriam, Valerie, Giovanni, Marc, and Philipp perform with oboes, taille, bassoon, and percussion, blending baroque music and theatrical elements in a children’s concert.
Wednesday 22 January
L’Estro Intelligente: Concerto de Cavalieri 7.30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
Indulge in a feast of string concertos, blending Vivaldi’s vibrant pieces with J.S. Bach’s masterful Brandenburg Concertos.
Thursday 23 January
Bach & l’Italie, Justin Taylor (Harpsichord), 12:00 p.m., Palazzo Parisio
Bach, rooted in Saxony, drew inspiration from Italy, incorporating thew newly discovered concertante style into his solo keyboard works.
Friday 24 January
William Christie 80th Birthday Concert: Les Arts Florissants 7.30 p.m., Teatru Manoel
Living legend William Christie’s birthday concert features Les Arts Florissants and renowned opera singers, celebrating Baroque masterpieces by various French composers in a splendid performance.
***
BeSeeingYou In: Valletta, Malta
Good To Know: All Valletta-based events are within walking distance of each other
WOW! Factor: Baroque architecture and music combine for an incredible cultural experience in Malta
Tip: Secure tickets early via the Festivals Malta website
Author bio: Albert Fenech
Email: salina46af@gmail.com
Plan your next trip to Malta at www.VisitMalta.com
Find your travel muse at BeSeeingYou
Follow us on Instagram
