The Malta Organ Festival Returning For 12th Edition

The 12th edition of The Malta International Organ Festival will be commencing between the 20th of November and the 7th of December.

11 concerts will take place, bringing the majestic sound of the “king of instruments” to a series of beautiful churches and heritage sites across Malta and Gozo.

Audiences will experience a journey through centuries of music, performed by leading international and Maltese musicians on Malta’s finest pipe organs, under the artistic direction of Dr Joseph Lia.

This year’s programme opens on 20th November at the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck, Valletta with a performance of Stabat Mater by Girolamo Abos and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, featuring the Kyiv Baroque Consort, the Malta International Organ Festival String Ensemble, organist Ramona Zammit Formosa and Italian conductor Nancy Romano.

Highlights include a special concert marking the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s death, a saxophone and organ recital that pushes the instrument into new sound worlds, and a unique screening of Eisenstein’s silent film Battleship Potemkin with a live original score for organ and piano, joined by percussion.

The festival closes with a grand concert featuring Josef Rheinberger’s Organ Concerto No. 1, showcasing the organ in full orchestral dialogue.

The Malta International Organ Festival aims to be accessible to all, with a mix of free and ticketed events and programmes that appeal both to organ aficionados and newcomers curious to discover this powerful instrument up close. Full programme details and ticket information are available on the festival website and social media channels.

Whether you’re a classical music lover or simply looking for a different cultural experience this winter, the Malta International Organ Festival offers a rare chance to hear world-class music in the very spaces it was meant for.

#MaltaDaily