Join period instrument ensemble 'Les Bougies Baroques' (conducted by Maltese conductor-harpsichordist Ian Peter Bugeja & led by Piotr Jordan) and singers Nicola Said, Clare Ghigo & Cenk Karaferya on an 18th-century journey at the historic Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu, Malta – featuring no less than eight works that will be performed in Malta for the first time since their inception in the 18th century – shedding light on one of the most prolific Maltese composers of yesteryear: Girolamo Abos.

Born to a French father & Maltese mother in Valletta in 1715 – and sent to Naples from a very young age to study music – Abos would go on to garner various ‘opera seria’ commissions in a string of major Italian cities and have his music sung by some of Europe’s finest singers, never to return to his island of birth.

PERFORMERS:

Period Instrument Ensemble | 'Les Bougies Baroques' Conductor/Harpsichord | Ian Peter Bugeja Ensemble Leader | Piotr Jordan

Soprano | Nicola Said Mezzo-soprano | Clare Ghigo Countertenor | Cenk Karaferya

PROGRAMME:

i. Overture to ‘Pelopide’ (1747)

ii. ‘Nasce amor nel sen d'un alma’ from ‘Artaserse’ (1746)

iii. ‘Padre con questo amplesso’ from ‘Tito Manlio’ (1751)

iv. ‘Quel fasto e quell’oltraggio’ from ‘Tito Manlio’ (1751)

v. ‘Padre, addio’ from ‘Pelopide’ (1747)

vi. Sinfonia in G major (c.1750-60)

vii. ‘Questo core amato bene’ from ‘Arianna e Teseo’ (1748)

viii. ‘Ritorna in te stesso' from ‘Alessandro nell’Indie’ (1747)

ix. ‘Non son le lagrime’ from ‘Tito Manlio’ (1751)

x. ‘Non pensar bell’idol mio’ from ‘Lucio Vero’ (1752)