Music 1983-85

Abstract

The music scene in Malta over the past three years can hardly be described as particularly exciting. Apart from a few prestigious performances organised by the Manoel Theatre Management Committee and by the Cultural Section of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs contacts with foreigners have been on the whole rather poor. On the one hand there was the opportunity to listen to great performances by people like Vladimir Ashkenazy who came to Malta in the summer of 1983 and Fou Ts'Ong, who visited the Island the following year, and to assist at performances by bodies like the La Scala Orchestra and the La Scala Ballet Company. On the other hand, apart from a few exceptions like pianist Anna Maria Stanczyk and violinist Mincho Minchev as well as the Ars Aniqua ensemble from Paris (the latter visit was sponsored by the Alliance Francaise de Malte), most of the foreign artists performing in Malta were, to say the least, second-raters, good enough in their field, but never giving really memorable performances. [excerpt]