I refer to Joe Felice Pace’s interesting article on Bice Mizzi, née Vassallo, wife of the Nationalist leader Enrico Mizzi (The Sunday Times, January 9).

I wish to add the following about Bice Mizzi-Vassallo’s early career as a concert pianist.

The then nine-year-old Bice gave a recital of classical music at the Manoel Theatre in May 1909, under the patronage of the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Pietro Pace, in aid of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sliema.

Bice’s next concert, also at the Manoel Theatre, was in April 1910 under distinguished patronage and the proceeds were in aid of the Valletta Society of St Vincent de Paul.

However, one of the most remarkable concerts she gave was held at the Bellini Conservatorio in Palermo in June 1911, in the presence of the Princess of Casalreale. This was a resounding success for the 11-year-old pianist.

Commenting about the concert, the critic of RassegnaMelodrammatica of Milan had this to say: “A concert has been held in the Scarlatti Hall of the Royal Conservatorio of Music in Palermo, in which the protagonist was 11-year-old Bice Vassallo, daughter of the talented Mro Paolino Vassallo of Malta. She has been described as a true prodigy of the piano. The distinguished if diffident audience gave her the full honours of a complete triumph.”

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