Virtuoso pianist at Casino Maltese and St James Cavalier

Internationally acclaimed French piano virtuoso Michel Bourdoncle will perform piano masterpieces at the 'Great Romantics' evening at the Casino Maltese, Valletta, on Friday at 7.30 p.m.

A repeat performance, in aid of the James Grech Cancer Fund, will be held at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity on Saturday at 8 p.m. "Great Romantics" is part of the Virtuoso Classics Summer Concert Series presented by the Euro Academy of Music & Arts, in collaboration with the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

Professor Michel Bourdoncle will present a varied programme including the monumental Liszt Sonata in B minor; Brahms' 3 Intermezzi opus 117; 4 Préludes from Debussy's 2ème livre; and the great Sonata No. 7 by Prokofiev.

Professor Bourdoncle pursues a triple career as concert pianist, professor at the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud in Aix-en-Provence, and artistic director of the Les Nuits Pianistiques international festival in southern France. He gives numerous master classes throughout the world, in particular in China and Japan. He has succeeded in building a solid reputation at the most important concert venues of the world, enhanced by a copious discography.

He has performed in numerous radio and television broadcasts and is the holder of a medal awarded to him by the town of Aix en Provence as well as one granted to him by the French National Assembly for his artistic achievements.

The Virtuoso Classics Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Lufthansa German Airlines, Portomaso, Bacchus Restaurant - Mdina, HSBC Bank Malta plc, Air Malta plc, BAWAG Malta Bank Ltd, Olimpus Music, Preluna Hotel, Perfection Café - Valletta, IRMCO Ltd, British Hotel, the New Dolmen Hotel, and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

The concerts are part of Festival Malta 2005, organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, and sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc and VISET plc.

Tickets cost Lm1.75 (students), Lm3, Lm5, Lm 8, Lm10 and Lm15 (golden circle). Transport is provided from all hotels at Lm1.50 return. For reservations call 7953 7925 or 7926 2391, or e-mail: euroacademy@global.net.mt . Further more information visit www.alanchircop.com and www.maltaculture.com .