Hats off to Victoria's Leone Band pop concert

"The big audiences we have had so far speak for themselves" - this was the comment made by Mro Colin Attard referring to last year's Leone Goes Pop. And these words came true this year too because our main square was full to capacity.

It all happened on Sunday evening, June 6, 2010 at Independence Square (It-Tokk), at 9 p.m. It was a perfect night with a light breeze after the long day of strong wind. But this time, the birds were already having their first deep nap after their goodnight songs among the leaves and boughs of the tall evergreen trees that enhance Victoria's main square. Incidentally it has come to my knowledge that these very old trees are to be chopped down and replaced by palm trees. This would be a great loss and an insult to the environment to say the least!

This year's programme included: The Cream of Clapton, Country and Western, Unchained Melody, The Beatles in Concert, One Moment in Time, Eros Ramazzotti in Concerto, Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, Elton John in Classics, Strangers in the Night, Michael Jackson: Thru the Years, New York New York; Joe Cocker and The Village People Hit Mix, all pieces of pop and rock music that require "versatility and flexibility from band members as well as the teams involved in the organization," as Mro Attard spelt it out! And he conducted yet another perfect pop concert indeed! This time the band members, apart from the black T-shirts, used hats of different colours to match with the music performed. "You can leave your hat on..." The compere was Jean Claude Micallef who is now part and parcel of the successful Leone Goes Pop event. The well established singers Mario Caruana and Nadine Axisa and the dancers, under the choreography of Debora Mercieca, added lustre to the evening.

Once more, our soloists, David Portelli (trumpet), Emy Vella (sax alto) and Ino Mario Busuttil (drums), showed their skill as attested by unending, well-deserved applause.

The presence of our beloved ex maestro Joseph Sammut was most encouraging and appreciated by all. One must add that this musical concert was organised by the Leone Philharmonic Society with the collaboration of the Victoria Civic Council to mark the Victoria City Day that falls on June 6. A big "thank you" is due to mayor Samuel Azzopardi and councillors for their help, attention and support.

One last point. I don't see the need of roofless opera houses and open air theatres. We have such artistic places and squares that, when free of traffic, become real closed places where the sound and light effects turn out beautifully. We reserve our closed opera houses and theatres for the rainy seasons.

Now we look forward to the replica of Leone Goes Pop later, at Marsalforn Bay and of course, to the well acclaimed opera Carmen by G. Bizet on October 16, 2010, this time at the Aurora opera house.

Leone went pop again very well. It is amazing how the Leone band of Victoria entertains us all the year round!