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The Primrose Ensemble Viola Quartet offers one of the more unusual and rewarding concerts of the Victoria International Arts Festival (VIAF) in Gozo on Friday 3 July 2026: an entire programme for four violas. Named in the tradition of the great viola players, the ensemble explores the rich, dark, mellow sound of the viola - the alto voice of the string family, usually heard within a quartet or orchestra rather than out front - across a programme that ranges from Renaissance polyphony to a Chopin transcription and contemporary writing for the unusual line-up. A quartet of four violas is a rare thing to hear, and that is much of the appeal. Without the bright top of the violin or the deep anchor of the cello, four violas produce a warm, homogeneous, almost vocal sound, full of inner glow - a texture that suits Renaissance counterpoint beautifully and casts familiar music in a fresh light. The programme reflects that range, opening with early polyphony and reaching through to a transcription of Chopin and newer pieces written or arranged for the ensemble, so the concert is both a journey through musical history and a showcase of the viola's expressive possibilities. The concert is part of VIAF, Malta's longest-running festival of its kind - five uninterrupted weeks of orchestral, choral and chamber music in Gozo between June and July - where, remarkably, every concert is free of charge. That sustained generosity has made VIAF a treasured fixture for music lovers and a genuine reason to visit Gozo in early summer. The festival's chamber concerts, held in the intimate acoustics of Victoria's churches and historic halls, are the ideal setting for the close, blended sound of a viola ensemble. For a visitor, a free evening of music for four violas in a historic Gozitan church is exactly the kind of distinctive cultural encounter that lifts a summer trip beyond the beaches - unusual enough to be a talking point, and beautiful enough to win over even those who have never given the viola a second thought. VIAF's venues are among Victoria's finest spaces, from the grand St George's Basilica to Teatru Astra and other churches and buildings around the historic centre. A few practical points. Getting to Gozo means the ferry from Cirkewwa in northern Malta to Mgarr, then a short bus ride or taxi up to Victoria in the centre of the island; if you are coming over for an evening concert, check the last ferry back or plan to stay on Gozo. Because VIAF concerts are free and unticketed, seating is first come, first served, so arrive in good time. Dress comfortably for a warm summer evening, and consider an earlier wander around Victoria's Citadel and squares before the concert. The viola has long been the quiet heart of the string family, and a whole programme devoted to four of them - moving from Renaissance counterpoint to Chopin and beyond - is a genuinely original highlight of the VIAF season. Free, intimate and set in central Gozo, the Primrose Ensemble's concert is a treat for the curious and a delight for anyone who already loves the instrument. Check viaf.org.mt for the concert's exact venue and start time before you go.

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