Malta International Music Festival

2021

Malta's golden soprano

15 June - 11 July 2022

5
July
8pm
Malta's golden soprano

National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

Michael Laus(Malta)

Andriana Yordanovasoprano(Malta/Bulgaria)

Danielle de Niesesoprano(USA ∙ Australia)

MCMA Students(vocal department)

Valletta
Mediterranean Conference Centre


Michael Laus

Michael Laus graduated in piano, harpsichord, composition, and conducting at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi of Milan in 1982. He later participated in master classes in conducting given by George Manahan in the United States and Vladimir Delman in Bologna. Principal Conductor of Malta’s national orchestra for twenty-five years and now its Resident Conductor, he has conducted the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in symphonic concerts both in Malta’s main concert venues and on tour in Belgium and Italy. He has conducted several opera productions which include the Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy, Die Zauberflöte, L’Elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Otello, Falstaff, La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi, Roméo et Juliette, Werther, Pagliacci and L’amico Fritz, as well as lesser-known titles such as Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto and Nino Rota’s La note di un nevrastenico. His performed repertoire includes the major symphonies of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Handel’s Messiah, the Mozart and Verdi Requiems, Jenkins’ Mass for Peace and other works from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with several first performances of works by contemporary composers. In July, 2016, he conducted the first European performance of Arvo Pärt’s Greater Antiphons, in the composer’s presence, and in November 2016 he conducted a highly acclaimed performance of Verdi’s Requiem. He opened the first edition of the Valletta International Baroque Festival in 2013 with Vivaldi’s Quattro stagioni together with Carmine Lauri, and the second edition with Handel’s Messiah. Other soloists with whom he has collaborated include Katia Ricciarelli, Cecilia Gasdia, Joseph Calleja, Brigitte Engerer and Andrea Griminelli, while he also works regularly with his wife, the soprano Miriam Gauci.

Michael Laus has guest-conducted prestigious orchestras such as the Bournemouth Symphony, the Slovak Philharmonic, the New Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Asturias, the Berne Symphony Orchestra, L’Orchestra Sinfonica di Pesaro, the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra and the Croatian Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as music director in operatic productions at the Berne State Theatre and in Oviedo. He regularly appears in the double role of pianist/harpsichordist and conductor in a concerto repertoire ranging from baroque to twentieth-century works. In this double role, he has won international critical acclaim for his recording of Cyril Scott’s Harpsichord Concerto. His restoration of the score of Ignaz Brüll’s Violin Concerto and his subsequent recording of this work has also been received with acclaim.

Michael Laus has recorded works for the piano and orchestra as well as orchestral music on CD, which have been released on Discover International, Unicorn-Khanchana and Cameo Classics labels. These include a series of recording of works by British composers, and another series on Jewish composers. He has appeared on Rai 3, France 3 and Mezzo television channels. He is Associate Professor in Music Studies at the University of Malta. He was the founder and first music director of the Malta Youth Orchestra, and also the founder and director of the Goldberg Ensemble, a choral and instrumental group specializing in the performance of baroque music.

Andriana Yordanova

Soprano

Andriana Yordanova is a Bulgarian soprano from Varna, who, since 2001 made Malta her second home.  In 1995 Yordanova made her debut as Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme at Bourgas Opera Theatre followed in 1996 with Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and Sylva Varesku in Kalman’s Die Cardashfuerstin, both at Varna Opera House. She sung in different concerts in Bulgaria, Malta, Italy, Austria, Russian Federation, Germany, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Hungary and Egypt. She appeared at the Veliko Tarnovo Theatre, Bulgaria, as Lila in Karastoyanov’s operatta Българи от старо време (Bulgarians from the old time) (2001) and as Mimi in La Boheme at the Stara Zagora Opera House, Bulgaria (2002). She participated in editions of the Bank of Valletta Opera Festival at the Manoel Theatre, Malta, as Alisia in Donizzetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoore (2003), as Zemfira in Rachmaninov’s Aleko (2010), as Nedda in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci (2012) and as Vitellia in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (2014). Other roles which she sung include Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen at Aurora Theatre, Gozo (2010), debut in Puccini’s Tosca at the State Opera Varna, Bulgaria (2011) and Violetta Valeri in Verdi’s La Traviata in Tjatru Pjazza Rjal, Malta (2014). She sung Gravina’s Stabat Mater at the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale, Malta (2015) which was as well recorded the same year.

Yordanova sung at numerous concerts some held under the auspices of the H.E. The President of Malta and the Hon. Prime Minister of Malta. These include the operatic evening with Bulgarian operatic tenor Boiko Zsvetanov (2016), other charity concerts, in solo and with her students (2017) and the operatic event Night at the Palace (2020). Other concerts which she actively participated in include Viva Verdi (Manoel Theatre, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, 2013), Concert Portrait Dmitry Kabalevsky (White Hall, Moscow Conservatoire, 2015), Mahler’s Rueckert Lieder and 4th Symphony (Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, 2016), Evening of Opera (Mediterranean Conference Centre, Malta, 2017), Eight Cellos with Narek Hakhnazaryan (Malta Philarmonic Orchestra, 2018) and Torna a Sorrento (Philharmony Orchestra, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation, 2018). In 2019, she performed, together with Prof. Rostislav Yovchev, works by Bulgarian and Maltese composers during the Festival Sofia Music weeks. Other concerts were presented at the House of Pancho Vladigerov in Sofia and at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Budapest.She worked with conductors like Ivan Vulpe, Kent Nagano, Ivo Venkov, Ivaylo Krinchev, Hristo Ignatov, Brian Schembri, Michael Laus, Damiano Binetti, Jean-Marc Burfin, Alexey Nyaga, Christopher Muscat, Colin Attard, Franchesco Falci, Alexey Galea Cavallazzi, Ivan Filev, Sunay Muratov, Stefan Ushev, Krastin Nastev, Georgi Dimitrov, Wayne Marshall among others.

Yordanova graduated with a Masters in Vocal Pedagogy and opera singing (2013) in the class of Prof. Ilka Popova and a Ph.D. in Musicology and Music Art (2016) from the National Academy of Music ‘Pancho Vladigerov’, Sofia, after graduating with a Masters in Russian Philology at Sofia ‘St Kliment Ohridski’ University (1992). She won scholarships from Kraft Jacobs Suchard, Accademia di Cultura Boris Christoff in Rome, Italy and European Opera Centre Thrust in Manchester, UK where she worked with Gianella Borelli, Renata Scotto, Mro Kent Nagano, Kostas Paskalis, Prof. Marta Lantieri etc.

In 2019, she was nominated for the Crystal Lyre Award in Bulgaria. At present she is a full-time voice teacher at Malta School of Music, part-time teacher at Masquerade Theatre Arts School, director of Opera Studio Atelier Lyrique as well as a judge at International Singing Competitions. 

Danielle de Niese

Soprano

Danielle de Niese has been hailed as “opera’s coolest soprano” by New York Times Magazine and “not just a superb performer, but a phenomenal one” by Opera News. A multi-faceted artist, de Niese has gained wide recognition for her superb stagecraft, assured singing and her ability to communicate on every level. She regularly appears on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages and is a prolific recording artist, TV personality and philanthropist.

In the 2019/20 season de Niese makes a highly anticipated debut at Teatro alla Scala as Cleopatra in Robert Carsen’s new production of Giulio Cesare, one of her signature roles. She also returns home to Los Angeles, where she made her operatic debut at the age of 15 to sing the title role in the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s highly anticipated new opera Eurydice as well as making a hugely exciting role debut as Blanche in Barrie Kosky’s new production of Dialogues des Carmélites at Glyndebourne. 

In the previous season she returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago, to sing Musetta La bohème in Richard Jones’ acclaimed production, a role for which she garnered huge acclaim at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She also starred as Norina in Laurent Pelly’s production of Don Pasquale at La Monnaie and made her role debut as Cendrillon at Glyndebourne in a new production by Fiona Shaw. De Niese also made a hugely successful west end debut in as Aldonza and Dulcinea Man of La Mancha alongside Kelsey Grammer at the London Coliseum. On the recital platform she appeared at the Cheltenham Festival in their 75th anniversary season. 

Recent highlights include a sensational debut as Hanna Glawari with Opera Australia in a new production of Merry Widow, first presented in Melbourne and reopening in Sydney with a gala performance on New Year’s Eve; a return to Royal Opera House where she sang her first Musetta to huge public and critical acclaim; Norina Don Pasquale at Wiener Staatsoper; the hugely successful Wonderful Town with Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, which was subsequently released on CD and for which she was nominated for the Opus Klassik Female Artist of the Year. Other concert appearances include successful solo tours in the Middle East and in Asia; an opera gala with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra; headlining the BBC Biggest Weekend at Scone Palace in Perth; and a chamber music evening curated by De Niese, part of the reopening of the Queen Elisabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre where together with her guests Menahem Pressler, Sir James Galway, Mark Simpson 

and the Navarra String Quartet she performed music by Roussel, Schubert and Chausson. 

Further successes include a double header for the BBC Proms, singing at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Jonas Kaufmann, broadcast worldwide, and at Proms in the Park in Hyde Park as well as appearances at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and gala concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and in St Petersburg at ‘Classics at the Palace Square’. Audiences in the UK have heard her in recital with Julius Drake at the Barbican, the Snape Proms and at the Birmingham Conservatoire as part of the Celebrity Recital Series. Her operatic engagements included the world premiere of Jimmy López’s Bel Canto at Lyric Opera of Chicago conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, her role debut as Donna Elvira Don Giovanni with Semperoper Dresden, Norina Don Pasquale in her company debut with Wiener Staatsoper, Adina L’elisir d'amore at the Opera national du Rhin, Rodelinda and Poppea Agrippina at Theater an der Wien and the new production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia as Rosina at the Glyndebourne Festival and BBC Proms. Further operatic appearances include Concepción L’heure espagnole and L’Enfant L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Norina Don Pasquale, Adina L’Elisir d’amore at Glyndebourne Festival Opera; Susanna Le nozze di Figaro, Ariel The Enchanted Island, and Despina Così fan tutte , all at the Metropolitan Opera New York; the title role L'incoronazione di Poppea at Teatro Real Madrid; Partenope and Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro at San Francisco Opera; the title role of Semele at Theâtre des Champs-Elysees; the title role of La Calisto at Bayerische Staatsoper; and Poppea Agrippina at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona. 

Born in Australia to parents of Sri Lankan and Dutch heritage, de Niese, became at the age of eighteen, the youngest ever singer to enter the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. One year later she made her Metropolitan Opera debut under James Levine, as Barbarina in Jonathan Miller’s acclaimed new production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. On the strength of her performance, de Niese went on to make major debuts at the Opéra National de Paris, Saito Kinen Festival and Netherlands Opera. In 2005 de Niese made her Glyndebourne Festival debut as Cleopatra in Sir David McVicar’s production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare and was catapulted to international fame. She has since reprised the role in the 2009 Glyndebourne revival, and in 2013 at the Metropolitan Opera, always to critical praise. 

A prolific recording artist, her debut recording for Decca, Handel Arias, was awarded the prestigious Orphée d'Or from and the much-coveted ECHO Klassik award, as well as earning her a Classical Brit Award nomination for Female Artist of the Year. The Mozart Album, Diva, and Beauty of the Baroque followed. 

A TV and media personality, De Niese won her first Emmy at the age of 16, when hosting a weekly arts showcase for teenagers at a Los Angeles local television. Her many TV appearances received widespread attention whilst her BBC documentaries such as Diva Diaries, The Birth of an Opera and the most recent and highly praised Unsung Heroines attest her extraordinary passion for the artform she represents and tireless commitment to bringing new audiences to it. 

Offstage, de Niese is an advocate for children’s rights and a passionate philanthropist and has been named by Marie Claire magazine on its influential list of “Women on Top”. She is an Ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Children and the Arts, a patron of Future Talent, which assists young musicians and singers with financial support and guidance and is an Artist Member of the Mannes Board of Governors. For the past year, de Niese has also been serving as an official Ambassador Voice for the International Rescue Committee. 

National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

The orchestra was founded in 1937. The first conductor of the orchestra was N. Gorchakov. In 1948, A. Kozlovsky took his place. In 1956-1963, the orchestra was directed by a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory Narimon Alimov, from 1963 to 1997 - People's Artist of Uzbekistan Zakhid Khaknazarov. The main task of the orchestra is to perform symphonic works by Uzbek composers. At the same time, the collective's repertoire also includes works by composers from other countries. It should be noted the special contribution of Alexey Kozlovsky, Mardon Nasimov, Nabi Khalilov, Kuvonch Usmonov and Zokhid Khaknazarov to the formation and creative activity of the orchestra.

In 1967 the orchestra toured in the republics of the former Soviet Union, in 1968 it won the competition for symphony orchestras of the Union republics.

In 1986, the National Symphony Orchestra was awarded the title of "Honored collective of the Republic of Uzbekistan".

In 1998, People's Artist of Uzbekistan Ismoil Jalilov was appointed artistic director of the orchestra, and composer Anvar Ergashev was appointed principal conductor.

In November 1998 the National Symphony Orchestra performed a concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin, in which US soloists D. Washington (baritone) and D. Fergunes (piano) took part. The concerts organized by the US Embassy in Uzbekistan have become an important event in the cultural life of Uzbekistan.

The collective collaborated with musical ensembles from UK, USA, France, Thailand.

The National Symphony Orchestra has 101 employees, 89 of them are musicians. Artistic director of the orchestra is People's Artist of Uzbekistan Ismoil Jalilov, conductor - Alibek Kabdurakhmanov (since 2018).

Programme

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