Music festival in Gozo

Gozo's Gaulitanus Choir will be holding its post-Easter festival called Gaulitana: A Festival Of Music between March 28 and April 20.

A series of concerts will feature local and international artistes and ensembles in a pot-pourri ranging from the sacred to the folkloristic and from pop to classical.

The festival will be directed by the choir's founder-director, Colin Attard.

The festival starts with two concerts. The first is a recital at St Augustine church, Victoria on March 28 by German organist Wolfgang Hörlin.

On March 30, Mr Hörlin will team up with compatriot Franz Frank for a concert at the Exhibition Hall, St Francis Square, Victoria.

An evening of traditional Maltese music and food will be held at Gozo Heritage, Għajnsielem on March 31. The bill will include local popular music by the Gaulitanus Choir and the Ta' Saguna Group from Sannat, a 10-piece ensemble playing traditional instruments.

An entrance fee of €12 (Lm5.15) will be charged and booking is advised.

The Exhibition Hall will host several young first prize winners of the Austrian competition Prima la Musica who will give a concert of chamber music on April 5.

On April 6, the soloists from the Gaulitanus Choir will perform a Vocal Galore, also at the Exhibition Hall.

The event on April 9 will feature the Groove Ensemble from Italy in a percussion concert at the Gozo Ministry's courtyard in Victoria.

Marcel Zidani will present a piano recital at the Aula Mgr Farrugia, St George's Basilica, Victoria, on April 11 and Susanne Anatchkova a piano recital at the same venue on April 18.

Silvio and Ramona Zammit Formosa will give a concert on flute at the Għarb Basilica on April 13 and on April 15 Sarah Spiteri and Alex Vella Gregory will team up for a concert of 17th and 18th century works for viola and keyboard at the Exhibition Hall, Victoria.

An event featuring American singer Britt Smallze will be held on April 19 in a nightclub/cabaret ambience. Ms Smallze will be accompanied by Mro Frank on the piano and Gozitans Jean Noël Attard and Frank Camille on violin and violoncello. Tickets cost €10 (Lm4.29) and must be pre-booked.

The festival ends with a sacred music concert by the Gaulitanus Choir - Sacred Finale - at the Gozo Cathedral on April 20.

All concerts start at 8 p.m. and are free of charge except where indicated. A donation of €40 (Lm17.17) entitles the donor to a reserved seat for all the events.

For further information and booking call 2156 0200, 9925 8592, 9994 9949 or e-mail info@gaulitanus.com or colinatt@maltanet.net.