On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Paolino Vassallo, the National Orchestra will perform, under the direction of Christopher Muscat, Vassallo's Messa Da Requiem at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, on November 25.

For the event, the National Orchestra will engage with soprano Miriam Cauchi, mezzo soprano Claire Massa, tenor Charles Vincenti and bass Noel Galea. Soloists and orchestra will join forces with the Malta Chorale, the Jubilante Deo Choir and members of the Coro Sinfonico di Milano Giuseppe Verdi who will travel to Malta for the concert.

Paolino Vassallo was born in Cospicua in 1856 and started learning the violin at a tender age. At the age of 19, he went to Paris to continue his studies where he also managed to infiltrate the Parisian musical circles while earning his living as first violin at the Opéra Comique and, later, on many occasions, acted as conductor of the orchestra of the same theatre.

After his 12-year stint in Paris, he found himself caught between two musical forces that prevailed in Malta at the time: sacred music and opera. He will be remembered as the teacher of Carlo Diacono, Giuseppe Caruana and Joe Mallia Pulvirenti.

Entrance to the concert is free and female patrons are requested to refrain from wearing stiletto narrow heels.

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