Culture
Laura Ansaldi Brings Jes Grixti’s Bla Kliem to Life in Zurich
A World Premiere for Solo Soprano
A memorable artistic moment unfolded in Zurich this spring with the world premiere of Bla Kliem, a striking new work for solo soprano by renowned Maltese composer Jes Grixti. The piece was presented during the European celebration of International Art Day at Artists for a Better World, an international association with headquarters in Los Angeles whose aim is to channel the power of art to social purposes. Its European site is run by artist and painter Amelie Monira Egenolf.
The performance became one of those rare occasions where music transcended language and connected directly with the audience on an emotional level. The Zurich audience responded with genuine enthusiasm and appreciation.
Jes Grixti and Laura Ansaldi first met in Malta earlier this year during Laura’s tournée in January, through the Mozart Malta Association—an encounter that soon developed into an artistic collaboration, culminating in this world premiere. This premiere marks the first outcome of their collaboration.
When asked about the project, Laura Ansaldi shared her thoughts:
“I am thrilled about this collaboration because I love the musical universe of Jes Grixti and the way his music speaks to the audience.”
On the artistic vision behind Bla Kliem, Jes Grixti explained:
“Laura is a professional musician and open-minded towards contemporary music. She has the musical instinct to differentiate between the two and present the audience with contemporary music that speaks to you and touches your soul.”
He continued by describing the essence of the work:
“Bla Kliem offers an innovative a cappella experience, using the voice as an instrument to evoke unmatched emotions by deconstructing speech’s phonetic components to create a rich harmonic texture. It also portrays the power of music as an international communication without barriers.”
On Laura Ansaldi’s interpretation, he added:
“Laura has the technical prowess of vocal register projection and stage presence, which make her performances engaging and effective—where the audience feels part of what is happening. Another reason is that she interprets music, as opposed to simply delivering sanitised music reading. That is a huge difference.”
As Amelie Monira Egenolf states so well: “The expressive composition resonated beautifully within the setting of an art exhibition. Laura Ansaldi’s voice added depth and emotion, captivating the audience with elegance and sincerity. The performance became a moving example of how art can inspire and connect.”
Looking ahead, both artists have expressed interest in continuing their collaboration. Future projects are currently being discussed, including possible new works and the idea of a summer academy in Malta with masterclasses and concerts. What began with this premiere is now developing into an ongoing artistic partnership.
