Ludwig Van Beethoven - Coriolan Overture We end our classical strand with a respectful plaudit towards Ludwig van Beethoven on his 250th anniversary – a collaboration with the national orchestra of Malta, under the baton of the MPO’s principal conductor, Sergey Smbatyan in a performance of Beethoven’s majestic Coriolan Overture Op 62 – a work first premiered at the palace of Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz, in 1807. - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival – Credits: Conductor: Sergey Smbatyan Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Video Production Three Wise Men Studios Film Director Jakub Kořínek Director of Photography Rodney Gauci Editor Lydin Cristina Musical Assistant Joel Hána Lights Ismael Portelli Sound Engineer Jan Košulič (PARMA Recordings) Recording Engineer Sergio Costa Produced for The Three Palaces Festival Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency, The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Mediterranean Conference Centre © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

“Ah, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.” Heiligenstadt Testament, Ludwig van Beethoven, October 6, 1802: one of the most heartbreakingly poignant and personal, penned by a composer. Taking this as our fundamental inspiration and trying to get deep into the mind of a composer who is losing the one sense that should be more perfect than any others – his hearing – this interdisciplinary project reflects the essence of “isolation”, through sound, light, movement, internal emotion and word. What do we experience when we read this – perhaps even more particularly now, when we are all in “isolation”? Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the composer, we have explored different interpretations of isolation or solitude: Alone but not lonely; Alone within one’s thoughts; Alone and isolated; Alone and in despair; Cocooned within oneself; Alone in a crowd; Blank face; Deceived by hope; Another world inside; A journey to find oneself; Discovery? What does it evoke to you? Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, THE THREE PALACES FESTIVAL Credits: Produced for the Three Palaces Festival Concept & Orchestral Score: Michelle Castelletti Music Composition, Production & Sound Design: Renzo Spiteri Choreography, Dramaturgy, Light Design and Costume Design: Francesca Tranter Dancer: Zoe Camilleri Voice: Antony Edridge Film Direction and Imagery: Emma Tranter Film: Jean Paul Caruana Inspiration: Ludwig van Beethoven and his Heiligenstadt Testament Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved. Text: For my brothers Carl and [Johann] Beethoven Oh you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn, or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you. From childhood on, my heart and soul have been full of the tender feeling of goodwill, and I was even inclined to accomplish great things. But, think that for six years now I have been hopelessly afflicted, made worse by senseless physicians, from year to year deceived with hopes of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible). Though born with a fiery, active temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was soon compelled to isolate myself, to live life alone. If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it was impossible for me to say to people, "Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf." Ah, how could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense which ought to be more perfect in me than others, a sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession enjoy or ever have enjoyed. […] [Full text: http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyHeiligenstadtTestament.html] - Ludwig van Beethoven Heiglnstadt, October 6th, 1802 Concept: Michelle Castelletti [2020]: The overarching inspiration was the Heiligenstadt Testament with several quotes pulled from it. Lots of scribbling of notes together was involved just to have a discussion with myself, at first - if that makes any sense – both musically and textually. The fundamental idea: to come up with a fusion of two different soundworlds, underpinned – perhaps presumptuously – by the interpretation (or ‘capture’) of the turbulence inside Beethoven’s mind, his isolation within himself, and ghosts and flashes of his later works, to create a narrative through choreography, with added layers of filmography, overdubbed voice, ‘interference’, and contrast, including the powerful contrasts of crowd/alone, noise/white noise, ‘distance’/silence. It was one of those incredibly exciting creative processes that will remain etched in my head for a long time, as it was an absolute joy to work with marvelous artist friends to create this. I think they are phenomenal - and the project would not be what it became without all of its constituent parts. MUSIC I. Within Without [Renzo Spiteri] II. You Wrong Me [Renzo Spiteri; Voice: Antony Edridge] III. All in my head [Michelle Castelletti & Renzo Spiteri] IV. A Dark Sense [Renzo Spiteri]

Chamber Music at the Palace We are very privileged to be the festival that celebrates its existence within the splendour of palaces and unique spaces in Malta. Three Palaces Festival 2020 would not have been complete without the beauty and intimacy of chamber music in a palace. Nothing would have been more befitting in this glorious setting than three of the island’s finest musicians performing trios by Bruch and Shostakovich, through a collaboration with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. We are honoured to have the patronage of HE The President of Malta. - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival – Credits: Produced for The Three Palaces Festival In Collaboration with The Malta Philarmonic Orchestra Michael Laus - Piano Marcelline Agius - Violin Nadia Debono – Viola Jan Košulič - Sound Engineer Ian Giordimaina - Assistant Engineer Matthew Muscat Drago - Filming & Editing Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to The Office of the President of Malta © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

The L’Isle Adam Choir Books There is one place in Malta that I consider a gem above all gems – and that is St John’s Co-Cathedral. The Knights of St John left an incredible legacy in Malta, not least in visual art and architecture. Another national treasure is the L’Isle Adam Illuminated Choral Books: a set of ten exquisitely illuminated manuscripts, dated 1533 – one of the first commissions by the Grand Master L’Isle Adam while in Malta – from the celebrated scriptorium of the collaborators of Jean Pichore, active in Paris and Rouen. Both are of extraordinary historical and artistic significance. It has been an honour to collaborate with St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, its curator, Cynthia Degiorgio, and respected art historian Professor Theresa Zammit Lupi, together with our film director Luke Cassar, to create a documentary to share this world of glorious opulence… - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival – Credits: Produced for the Three Palaces Festival Lecturer - Dr. Teresa Zammit Lupi Documentary introduced by Cynthia Degiorgio Curator - St John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum Videography: Nigel Fleri Soler, Matthew Zammit Cordina, Julian Caruana Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency and the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

Giants of Jazz Ronnie Scott’s All Stars Leave your cloaks and tiaras behind you tonight as we bring the festival to a close with our jazz indulgence, from the world’s Citadel of Jazz – RONNIE SCOTT’s in Soho, London. A phenomenal line-up! Ronnie Scott’s ALL STARS will take us around the world with music of the world’s jazz giants … Goodman, Ellington, Basie, Parker, Gillespie, to Miles Davies and Herbie Hancock… + my personal request for a special feature of Oscar Peterson. Enjoy the slick, groovy vibe with whatever takes your fancy. Not promoting alcohol intake in any way, but I know that I will be enjoying this evening with an equally decadent bottle of Brunello di Montalcino… I hope you have all enjoyed #3Palaces2020. Please stay with us and help us support our artistic community. We shall certainly be here for you. Here’s to the Arts; and, more importantly, to a world that heals soon… - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival Credits: Freddie Gavita (trumpet) Pete Long (Saxes) Alex Garnett (Saxes) James Pearson (Piano/MD) Sam Burgess (Bass) Chris Higginbottom (Drums) Christian Doho (Videography & Editing) Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti [Three Palaces Festival] © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

The Forgotten Fragments of a Symphony of Horror F R I D A Y T H E T H I R T E E N T H I N N O V E M B E R. It just had to stem from the dark side of silent film; and there is an underlying powerful force in German Expressionist film, precursor and strong influencer of film noir. Dare we open the curtains and squeaking door (sic.) of this “desolate castle” and travel through this land of ghosts and symphonic horror together? ... - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival – Credits: Directed by Chris Gatt Music composed by Kris Spiteri Cinematography By Matthew Muscat Drago Sound Engineering by Sergio Costa Performed by Chris Dingli Foley artist Marco Calleja Presented by Pia Zammit Makeup by Lara Bella Vella Baldacchino Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Malta Society of Arts and Arts Council Malta © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

Ruben and Dawn are two of the foremost exponents of contemporary music in Malta, with determined drive, creativity, and openness for interdisciplinarity and innovative thinking, which makes conversations incredibly stimulating, and results, terrific. We have come up with a programme that will explore a whole gamut of soundworlds and textures, interlaced with evocative imagery and movement. And how more enchanting could the possibly nostalgic, but magical sounds of a toy piano be? - Dr. Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival – Credits: WATCH CHIMES by Ennio Morricone Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra POUNDING by Ruben Zahra Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra; Model – Emma Hickey; Makeup – Jackie Grima; Audio recording and mixing - Manolito Galea (LITO’s Place) SUITE FOR TOY PIANO by John Cage Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra WORMS CRAWL IN by Ruben Zahra Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra PARADE by Erik Satie Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra; Choreography & Dancers – Diane Portelli & Dorian Mallia (Moveo Dance Company); Costume design – Ritienne Zammit; Projection Dance Sequence – MAKA Visuals; Stop-motion animation – Christ Scicluna; Lights – Christopher Gatt TIERKREIS by Karlheinz Stockhausen (selection) Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra ALLELUIA by Ruben Zahra Pianist – Tricia Dawn Williams; Video production – Ruben Zahra; Filming – Sam Chetcuti (Cyberspace AV); Recording Engineer – Luke Grech (Cornerhouse Studios); Mixing Engineer – Matthew James Borg Artistic Director: Michelle Castelletti Special thanks to the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Malta Society of Arts and Arts Council Malta © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.

Joby Burgess - Powerplant Thinking digitally and of interdisciplinarity from concept, Joby’s work with Kathy and Matt immediately came to mind. Enthusiastic spirited chats have shaped a programme which is arresting both visually and sonically. I am also thrilled that the festival will be premiering Joby’s new arrangement for marimba solo + electronics of Eric Whitacre’s mesmerising Sleep, which, together with the ethereal sounds of the aluminium harp in Linda Buckley's Discordia, will be a striking contrast to the powerful explosions of sound and colour of the rest of POWERPLANT with Alvarez and de Wardener. This project is also a wonderful example of when working together creates marvellous things. I am particularly pleased to have worked with my connections in Oxford to collaborate on this project. -Dr Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director, Three Palaces Festival Credits: Joby Burgess - Powerplant Produced for The Three Palaces Festival 2020 Joby Burgess – production and percussion Matt Fairclough – sound design Kathy Hinde – visual artist Filmed by Andy Willsher and Iain Armstrong Dr Michelle Castelleti - Artistic Director Special thanks to The North Wall Arts Centre and the Oxford Festival of the Arts © 2020 Festivals Malta. All rights reserved.