It is with great pleasure and honour that the organising committee of the Victoria International Arts Festival is inaugurating this year’s special 15th edition of the Festival with a difference. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has, for the past 6 years, been engaged for the closing concert of the Festival. This year, it has also been asked to play the inaugural concert. Joseph Vella’s wonderful Concerto for Violin and Orchestra op. 65 will take pride of place, with renowned soloist Marcello Canci playing this difficult work. Fauré’s lovely Pavane op. 50 will initiate the concert and the closing work on the programme is Liszt’s ravishing Les Preludes S97.