Built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565 and so adorned by its eight languages, Valletta not only had to serve as a powerful fort, but was also set to become a strongpoint of culture, economy and politics in the world. Inflated at the height of the baroque period, Valletta rose to become a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.
Now absolutely established on the international baroque scene, the Festival has gone from strength to strength. The Valletta International Baroque Festival has been created deliberately as a celebration of this baroque identity of Valletta. For two weeks, with top international baroque musicians and ensembles performing in 24 different events in 9 different venues in Valletta.
The Valletta Baroque Festival will feature artists, both from Malta and abroad, performing wonderful music from Monteverdi to Bach and beyond. Like the previous year the festival will explore beautiful baroque settings outside Valletta, such as Verdala Palace or the amazing San Filippu ta' Aggira Parish Church of Żebbuġ, and as such bring baroque music into the places it was composed for.