The Three Palaces Festival 2025 in Malta offers a rich tapestry of cultural events, blending tradition with contemporary artistry. The festival's theme, "Conversations," is explored through various performances and exhibitions across Malta's historic venues. Highlights include:
- **The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari – Silent Film with Live Improvised Music**: Experience the haunting German expressionist classic on October 27, 2025, at 7pm in the late 16th-century Church of Santa María Maddalena in Valletta. The film is brought to life through live improvisation by guitarist and composer Glen Montanaro.
- **Melomania: Solo Violin & Solo Dance**: On October 28, 2025, at 7pm, the Gran Salon at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta hosts a unique "danced concert" created by dancer/choreographer Stéphanie Brochard and baroque violinist Bojan Čičić. The performance spans centuries, culminating in Sally Beamish’s "Intrada e Fuga" and Bach’s "Sonata No. 2 in A minor."
- **Chiaroscuro – Exhibition Opening Night**: On October 29, 2025, at 6:30pm, the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta unveils "Chiaroscuro," a visual arts exhibition curated as a conversation between light and shadow. The exhibition features works by international artists like James Gemmill and rising Maltese talent, accompanied by a dramatic opening night and artist conversations.
- **Taħdit – Black-Box Sound Installation**: A sensory experience awaits on October 30, 2025, at 8pm at Valletta Campus Theatre. "Taħdit" is a black-box sound installation featuring flautist Kathryn Williams and a surround-sound choral landscape.
- **Death, Transcendence, Resurrection – Mozart’s Requiem**: On October 31, 2025, at 8pm, St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta hosts the Amadeus Chamber Choir performing Mozart’s Requiem, for the first time partially in Maltese, alongside newly commissioned works.
- **Fuq tal-linja ma’…! [= on the bus with…]**: Throughout the weekend of November 1, 2025, the festival features roaming performances and conversations aboard vintage Maltese buses, offering a unique cultural experience.
- **Baroque Conversations – Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 5**: On November 1, 2025, at 8pm, Verdala Palace in Siġġiewi hosts an opulent Baroque evening led by members of ViBE (Valletta Baroque Ensemble), featuring Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 5.
- **Quattro Mani: A Clown Called Petrouchka**: On November 2, 2025, at 6pm, pianists Gabi Sultana and Joanne Camilleri deliver a dazzling four-hand recital featuring works by Stravinsky, Ravel, Gershwin, and Kulenty at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta.
- **Goyescas – Live Painting to the Music of Granados**: On November 2, 2025, at 11am, the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta presents "Goyescas," a live painting by Maryleen Schiltkamp and piano recital by Maureen Galea.
The festival emphasizes the juxtaposition of tradition and pageantry with reflection and introspection, encapsulating the duality of the Christian religion, where Christ’s triumphant magnificence is achieved through His Passion. The Three Palaces Festival invites audiences to experience intimate performances in the grandeur of some of Malta’s finest palaces, celebrating the cultural melting pot of the Mediterranean. For more details, visit the official website.
Also check out other Entertainment events in Valletta, Music events in Valletta, Arts events in Valletta.
