Listen to the music

Themed “Listen to the Music”, this year’s edition of Voices, being held in October, was launched this morning.

The concert, held every two years, is now running in its 20th year and will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre between October 6 and10 and from October 13 to 17. Rehearsals are currently being carried out.

Voices started off in 1991 with a group of 70 people and grew to a 200-strong choir, a 10-person live band and many others who helped behind the scenes.

Voices Foundation Committee chairman Antonello Gauci said this year’s slogan encouraged the public not only to listen to the music but also to listen to the world, paying attention to social issues and people in need.

Over the past years Voices has donated around €1.2 million to charities and organisations.

In 2008, it focused on helping The Learning Centre at San Blas, which is to be inaugurated soon and will be run by Caritas. It will provide educational opportunities for in drug rehabilitation. This year’s beneficiary will be announced later.

Songs in this year’s festival will include Volare, Philadelphia Freedom, Hallelulia, The Show Must Go On, Nessun Dorma and Viva la Vida.

Tickets, at €15, €20 and €25, will be on sale from September 17 from the MCC booking office and online from the Voices website.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina said that this year’s theme was perfect because sometimes one did not realise that the people around needed help so one had to stop and listen.

She encouraged the people to attend because the concert, which, she said, was sheer entertainment for a good cause.

www.voices.org.mt