Alexey Shor recalls a long tradition of works influenced by their composers’ travels, from Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage to Ernst Krenek’s Reisebuch. Travel Notebook, a suite of seven pieces performed here with Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin as soloist, reflects Shor’s impressions of places such as La Rambla in Barcelona, the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and the River Rubicon in north-eastern Italy. The work begins with a lyrical ‘Wayfarer's Prayer’ and closes with a trip to the horse races at Royal Ascot. Michael Francis leads the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhineland-Palatinate through the exotic soundscapes of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. Its music was commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes and made its little-known composer’s name following its premiere at the Opéra de Paris in 1910.

The InClassica Malta International Music Festival is organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC), led by Konstantin Ishkhanov, in collaboration with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

Dear classical music lovers, within the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizer will follow all the recommendations from the Ministry for Health and make sure that everyone will be safe at the venue. If the epidemiological situation in the country will call into question the holding of the planned concerts or If the situation deteriorates, the concerts will be postponed to a later date or the organizer will return to you the money (excl booking fee).