Popular Rai Due Christmas Eve concert to be held in Malta

This year’s Concerto di Natale, the popular Christmas Eve concert screened on Raidue, is being held in Malta.

The concert will be recorded on December 4 at the Republic Hall of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco told a news conference this morning that the event promoted local and foreign talent, as well as solidarity.

This was because a donation from the proceeds would be contributed to the people of Haiti, hit by the tragic earthquake, at the beginning of the year.

The concert is organised annually by Primetime Promotions with the collaboration of the Salesian Society, that manage the philanthropic projects.

Dr de Marco thanked the organisers for choosing Malta and said the promotion of the event and the screening of the concert would promote the country, particularly with Italian tourists, who made up the second largest number of visitors to Malta every year.

The concert, he said, has been increasing in viewership with the latest edition viewed by almost three million people in Italy alone, a four per cent increase over the previous year.

Dr de Marco said that after the event, the rights of the concert would be sold to RAI International which would then transmit the concert or parts of the event on television stations around the world.

He said that the local artists participating in the concert are the National Philharmonic Orchestra, a group from the popular concert Voices, the children’s choir led by soprano Gillian Zammit and the Maltese soprano, currently living in Italy, Maria Abela.

Dr de Marco said that, as happened in the last 17 years, the concert will be led by Maestro Renato Serio. Past notable artists participating in the concert were Andrea Boccelli, Riccardo Cocciante, Enya, Claudio Baglioni, Laura Pausini, Al Bano, Massimo Ranieri and Gigi d’Alessio.

Maestro Renato Serio said that the concert in Malta will include popular artists and a mixture of music varying from classical, pop and rock.

The artists include the English band, Skunk Anansie, the three-time Grammy Awards winner, Skin:Al Jarreau, Noa, Pino Daniele, Gigi d’Alessio, Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde, Antonella Ruggiero, Lighea, Max Gazze’, Les Pretres, the duo Musica Nuda, Emma Marrona, Maurizio Tassani, and the New York State Gospel Choir.

Popular foreign artist, Lighea, who will be participating, gave a short performance and spoke of her enthusiasm to return to Malta in December to perform at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.