The Caravaggio performance in the Oratory
Music, song and storytelling in the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, beside Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, with half an hour in the cathedral beforehand.
Is it worth an evening?
Is the Caravaggio concert in Valletta worth it?
The short answer
Yes, if you want a short, staged evening about one painting, in the room the painting was made for. Reviewers on the booking page praise the setting, the musicians and the way the story brings the cathedral's history to life, and a few ask for clearer amplification of the narration. It is a performance of under an hour, not a full concert.
- 01
What you are buying
A site-specific performance in the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, in English, built around Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Live Baroque and sacred music, a singer and an actor carry the story, and the cathedral can be viewed on your own for 30 minutes beforehand.
- 02
What you will not get
No guided tour of the cathedral on this ticket, no museum visit, no food and no drink. Photography inside is not allowed, and the programme changes with the artists on the night, so no fixed set of pieces is promised.
- 03
Why the room matters
The painting was made for the Oratory and still hangs there. Wikipedia says Caravaggio was expelled from the Order of St John in a ceremony held in that room, before this very canvas. A performance there sits closer to the story than a wall label can.
Four facts, no frills
- Where
- The Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
- Performance
- About 40 to 45 minutes of music, song and storytelling.
- Before it
- 30 minutes to view the cathedral without a guide.
- Language
- English.
What the evening weaves together
What the evening weaves together
The booking page describes a site-specific performance that combines classical and sacred music, theatrical storytelling and Caravaggio's painting. These are the strands, not a running order.
- Painting
The Beheading in its own room
The largest canvas Caravaggio painted and the only one he signed, made in 1608 for the Oratory and still hanging there. The booking page lists the painting among its highlights, with special lighting.
- Music
Baroque and sacred Maltese music
The booking page names works by Baroque masters such as Handel and Bach, and sacred Maltese music by Francesco Azzopardi. Wikipedia says Azzopardi, born in 1748, worked at St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina and, from 1789, also at St John's Co-Cathedral.
- Strings
Harp, violin, cello and psaltery
The booking page lists the Baroque harp, Baroque violin, Baroque cello and the psaltery. One reviewer adds that the church organ was played too.
- Voice
A soprano
The booking page describes sopranos singing sacred and Baroque pieces. Which artists perform changes from date to date.
- Story
A narrator in character
The booking page names a narrator in the character of Fra Bartolomeo, who tells tales of the Oratory. Reviewers describe an actor as a 16th-century knight, speaking of the cathedral's first stone, the siege and Caravaggio's arrival.
- Place
The cathedral before the music
The booking page says the cathedral may be viewed without a guide for 30 minutes before the performance. Entry is by the main door on St John Street.
Different artists play on different dates and the booking page warns that the programme can shift a little. Think of this as the outline of an evening, not a setlist.
Door to finale
From the main door to the last note
The start time for the evening you pick appears in your confirmation.
- 01 Arrive
Use the main door
The booking page says to arrive at the main door on St John Street. Wikipedia gives the daytime visitors' entrance as the one on Republic Street, so follow your confirmation for the evening.
- 02 Look
Half an hour in the cathedral
You may view St John's Co-Cathedral on your own for 30 minutes before the performance. Wear comfortable shoes, because the booking page bars high heels.
- 03 Listen
The performance in the Oratory
About 40 to 45 minutes of music, song and storytelling before the painting, in English. Artists and programme vary, so the music is not fixed.
- 04 After
Supper is separate
Food, drink and transport are not part of the ticket. Choose a place to eat in Valletta separately.
What the ticket pins down
What the ticket settles
Six things the ticket fixes before you choose an evening.
- Language
- The performance is in English.
- Length
- The performance itself runs about 40 to 45 minutes.
- Programme
- Artists perform on different dates and the programme may change slightly.
- Dress
- The booking page bars short skirts, sleeveless shirts and high-heeled shoes.
- Photography
- The booking page bars photography inside the cathedral and the Oratory.
- Food and drink
- The booking page lists food and drinks, and transport, as not included.
The cathedral, the Oratory and the painting
The cathedral, the Oratory and the painting
The nave and its painted vault, the cathedral's plain front, Caravaggio's Beheading, his Saint Jerome Writing from the same Oratory and one of the ceiling paintings.
Four ways to fill a Valletta day
The Oratory performance, and three more outings
The first card is the evening performance this site covers. The other three are Valletta outings for another part of the trip: a walking tour, a monastery visit, and an audio-visual show on Malta's history with a tour of the Knights' infirmary.
Valletta on foot with a licensed guide
A walking tour in English led by a licensed guide, past the Upper Barrakka Gardens, the Auberge de Castille and St John's Co-Cathedral.
A convent garden in the old town
St Catherine's Monastery, known as Mysterium Fidei, with an audio guide in eight languages, a crypt and a garden. Access is by a few low stone steps.
Malta's story on a panoramic screen
An audio-visual show on Malta's history, with commentary in 17 languages, followed by a guided tour in English of the Knights' Holy Infirmary.
More to book in Valletta
Getting ready for the Oratory
Reaching Valletta and what to carry
Where it is
St John's Co-Cathedral stands in the centre of Valletta, which Wikipedia places between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. It adds that the cathedral is a short walk from the bus terminus near City Gate.
Which door
The booking page names the main door on St John Street for the evening. The daytime visitors' entrance is elsewhere, on Republic Street, so use the door in your confirmation.
What to wear
Cover your shoulders and knees. The booking page bars short skirts, sleeveless shirts and high-heeled shoes, and Malta Uncovered adds that headgear comes off and that backpacks are worn in front.
What to bring
The booking page lists comfortable shoes and a camera under what to bring, and photography inside under what is not allowed. Keep the phone silent for the performance.
Access
The booking page lists wheelchair access.
Dates
The performance does not run every night. The calendar shows the evenings on offer, and your confirmation repeats the start time.
If plans change
Until the day before, the ticket can be cancelled with a full refund, and nothing is charged when you reserve.
Further guides
Six guides to the Caravaggio evening
- Start here
Caravaggio concert in Valletta
What the Caravaggio concert in St John's Co-Cathedral is, what it is not, how it differs from a daytime visit, and who will enjoy an evening in the Oratory. Go to the Valletta guide → - Which to book
Concert or daytime visit?
Evening performance or a daytime visit to St John's Co-Cathedral: what each gives you, what each leaves out, and when the after-hours tour is the better pick. Go to the Valletta guide → - The painter
Caravaggio's year in Malta
Why Caravaggio came to Malta in 1607, what he painted for the Knights, and how a knighthood ended in arrest, escape and expulsion within about a year. Go to the Valletta guide → - The painting
The Beheading, explained
A plain guide to Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist: what the scene shows, why it is so large, where he signed it and how to look at it. Go to the Valletta guide → - The place
The cathedral and its Oratory
A short history of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and its Oratory: who built it, who decorated it, and why the plain front hides so rich an interior. Go to the Valletta guide → - Before you go
What to wear and how to behave
Dress, shoes, photography, silence and arrival for an evening in the Oratory: what the booking page asks, what Malta Uncovered adds, and how etiquette works. Go to the Valletta guide →
FAQ
What travellers ask first
What is the Caravaggio concert in St John's Co-Cathedral?
A live performance of about 40 to 45 minutes in the Oratory, combining classical and sacred music, theatrical storytelling and Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. It is staged in English.
How is it different from a daytime visit?
A daytime visit is self-paced, covers the whole cathedral and is a separate ticket. This evening is a short staged performance, with 30 minutes in the cathedral beforehand and no tour included.
How long is it?
The performance runs about 40 to 45 minutes, after half an hour to view the cathedral.
Which door do I use?
The booking page names the main door on St John Street. Your confirmation repeats the arrangements for your evening.
Is it in English?
Yes. The booking page says the performance and the tour option are both in English.
Can I take photos?
Not inside. The booking page bars photography inside the cathedral and lists flash as not allowed.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear flat, comfortable shoes. The booking page bars short skirts, sleeveless shirts and high heels.
Can I cancel?
Yes, until the day before the performance, and you can reserve now without paying yet.
A live performance of music and storytelling in the room Caravaggio's largest painting was made for.
Book the Caravaggio performance ↗The calendar shows the price in the currency you choose.