Forsi Hlomt...Discovering the Art of Maltese Song

Mdina Lions Club present: Forsi Hlomt...Discovering the Art of Maltese Song

Nicola Said - Soprano

Gisèle Grima - Pianist

I am very happy to be performing my Maltese recital "Forsi Hlomt...Discovering the Art of Maltese Song" in Malta. I will be joined by Maltese pianist Gisèle Grima. We shall be performing works by Maltese composers, including Nicolo Isouard, Paolo Nani, Carmelo Pace, Charles Camilleri, Joseph Vella, Veronique Vella and Alex Vella Gregory.

Tickets are 15 Euro each and there will be a reception after the recital. Bookings can be made by calling 79733773 or sending an email to lionsclubmdina@yahoo.com.

Programme:

Non je ne veux pas chanter from 'Le Billet de Loterie' (Nicolo Isouard)

Tristezza (Paolo Nani)

Nel Crepuscolo (Carmelo Pace)

Jagged Jig (Véronique Vella)

Ħames Kanti Popolari (Charles Camilleri)

Iż-Żerniq L-Għodwa In-Nhar L-Għabex Logħba

INTERVAL

Triptych (Joseph Vella)

A wish A Sigh A Prayer Qamar Kwinta (Alexander Vella Gregory)

Selections from song cycle Verita (Alexander Vella Gregory)

Il-Ħadd Filgħaxija L-Ghorfa Kultant Post-Mortem Forsi Ħlomt

About the performers: Maltese Soprano Nicola Said is studying Masters in Music Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she will be continuing her studies on the Opera Course studying with Yvonne Kenny. Nicola was nominated by Joseph Calleja to attend the Mozarteum University of Salzburg Summer Academy 2014, and last November Nicola attended Samling Academy where she worked with Roger Vignoles, Joan Rodgers, Audrey Hyland, and Alex Hassell. She has won the Alfred H. Caplan Opera Scholarship and the President's Honor Award at the Bob Cole Conservatory, CSULB. Performed roles include Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), La Fée (Cendrillon), Olympia (Les Contes d’Hoffman), and Sandman/Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), and the partial roles of Norina (Don Pasquale), Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos), Musetta (La Bohème), Madame Mao (Nixon in China), and Carolina (Il Matrimonio Segreto). Nicola has recently performed with Joseph Calleja in the Inagural Christmas Concert for the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation and in the closing concert of the Valletta International Baroque Festival 2014. She has worked with David Gowland, Marilyn Horne, Graham Johnson, Emma Kirkby, Cheryl Studer, Sarah Walker and Benjamin Luxon, and has studied with Shigemi Matsumoto, Alice Horne, and continues to coach with Juliette Bisazza while in Malta. She received support from the Ian Tomlin Scholarship Fund, Frieda Caplan, Janatha Stubbs Foundation, and is currently being supported for her Masters studies as a recipient of the Malta Arts Scholarship funded by the Maltese Government. Nicola has been nominated by the UK Malta High Commission as the representative of Maltese Youth on Commonwealth Day. Upcoming performances include the role of La Pastourelles in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges with Dominic Wheeler conducting the London Schools Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Hall and the soloist in Hawes' Song of Songs with "The New Choral Singers" conducted by Robert Calleja at St. John's Co-Cathedral in Malta. Gisèle Grima merits her status as “one of the leading Maltese pianists of her generation” (The Sunday Times, Malta). She has rapidly established herself as a prominent performer and sought-after accompanist both locally and overseas. Her solo and chamber recitals have taken her around Malta, Sicily, Finland, Iceland, South-West France, Syria, Manchester, Edinburgh and London. Gisèle has appeared in various festivals including the International Spring Orchestra Festival 2010 & 2013, Malta Arts Festival 2007 and the Victoria Arts Festival 2012. In May 2010 she made her début as a concerto artist with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major under the baton of Michael Laus. Gisèle began her music studies in Malta with Josianne Vella Bardon, Lydia Buttigieg and Maria Dolores Amodio Chircop. Between 2003 and 2009, she furthered her music studies with Nicholas Ashton, Lauri Väinmaa, Tiina Kärblane and Paul Roberts. She is a graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh where she obtained a First Class Honours degree and the recipient of scholarships from the MGSS, the Janatha Stubbs Fund and Dr. Ian Tomlin. In 2008, Gisèle graduated with a Master of Music in performance with Distinction and a Postgraduate Diploma in performance in 2009 from the RNCM. She was subsequently awarded the William Humphreys Dayas Prize as a result of her success to place as a finalist in the highly competitive Piano Recital Prize. Gisèle has also received training from Franco Foderà, Brian Schembri, Cynthia Turner, Carole Presland, Dina Parakhina, Graham Scott, Dmitri Rachmanov, Iris Senturker, Phillipe Cassard, Harold Gray, John Lill, Drake, David Jones, Pavel Fischer and Ian Brown. Gisèle is proud to have been appointed a trustee member for the Ian Tomlin Napier/Malta Scholarship Fund. She also holds both LLCM and FRSM performance diplomas.