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DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION
MALTA
Press Release
PR 1146
10. 06. 2011
PRESTIGIOUS CONCERT AT THE CATHEDRALE SAINT-LOUIS DES INVALIDES BY
THE EMBASSY OF MALTA IN FRANCE
Last Thursday May 26th 2011 the Embassy of Malta in France organised a concert entitle “Parcours
en Musique” at the prestigious Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris. Over five hundred
guests attended this prestigious two hour concert organised by the Embassy to celebrate the
felicitous state of current Maltese French relations. Various dignitaries attended this event
including Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Mario de Marco, Count de De la Rochefoucauld-Monttbel,
head of the French branch of the Order of the Sovereign Knights of Malta, Dr. Ray Bondin
Ambassador to UNESCO, Professor Edward Debono, Mrs. Camilleri wife of the late Maestro
Charles Camileri, as well as several Senator, Ambassadors. A sizeable number of Maltese persons
was also present.
The choice of music and performers had a strong Maltese bias, designed to showcase some of the
best elements of Maltese artistic talent. The concert opened with the overture from the operatic
work Joconde of Maltese French composer Nicolo Isouard. This overture from what is considered
to be one of Isouard’s best operatic works was played by the Orchestra of the Republican Guard and
directed by Colonel Sebastien Billiard. The overture was then followed by the “New World
Symphony” of the late Charles Camilleri. This symphony had been commissioned by Professor
Debono’s Centre for New Thinking and this was only the second time that this work was played in
public. Maestro Brian Schembri brilliantly directed the Orchestra of the Republican Guard in a
polished performance of this demanding but inspired work. A surprised and enthusiastic applause
by the audience was eloquent testimony of its appreciation of the work and of Maestro’s Schembri
direction. Maestro Schembri’s direction of the Orchestra was unique in that this orchestra is ormally
always directed by French Military composers.
The final performance of the evening was the much anticipated Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto for
Piano and Orchestra no 5 with French acclaimed pianist Brigitte Engerer as soloist. In a touching
introduction to the Concert, Ambassador Miggiani mentioned that twenty years ago while reading
an article about Brigitte Engerer in a French magazine, he had speculated about the possible link
between Ms. Engerer and his mother, the late Eileen Engerer. Upon taking up his post as
Ambassador to France, he meet with Ms. Engerer and after further investigation was able to
confirm that Ms. Engerer was indeed of Maltese descent, directly related to his mother’s family and
eligible for Maltese citizenship. Brigitte Engerer gave a ‘thunderous’ rendition of the Beethoven
Concerto and received a standing ovation.
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A special programme prepared for the concert was distributed against a voluntary contribution by
volunteers of the French Association of the Charitable Works of the Knights of Malta. All proceeds
were donated to this association.
Ambassador Miggiani presented the Certificate of Maltese citizenship to a proud and emotional
Brigitte Engerer and her father.
In conclusion, the Ambassador thanked Maestro Brian Schembri, the Institute for Maltese Culture
(IMC), ICP/Texinfine and the Malta Tourism Authority without whose assistance and sponsorship
the concert would not have been possible.
PR 1146
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DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI – DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION
MALTA