Leone Band in concert
November 14 was yet another red-letter day in the busy calendar of the Aurora Theatre in Victoria. This time, it was a symphonic concert of classical music performed beautifully by the Leone Band to mark the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the...
November 14 was yet another red-letter day in the busy calendar of the Aurora Theatre in Victoria. This time, it was a symphonic concert of classical music performed beautifully by the Leone Band to mark the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Assumption of Our Lady, proclaimed at the Vatican by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950.
After the huge success of the fully-booked Carmen, the Aurora Theatre hosted, free of charge, some 600 patrons who are fond of this type of music. The Leone Band, conducted by Colin Attard, held, once more, a pleasant evening to be remembered. It is a pity such programmes in Gozo are not given due importance in the media like those performed in Malta!
The programme included remarkable 19th and 20th century classics like, inter alia, Frank William Erickson’s Toccata for Band, Georges Bizet’s nine-movement suite from Carmen, Pietro Mascagni’s Intermezzo from L’Amico Fritz, the three-movement suite from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, the medley A Morricone Portrait, George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, etc.
I admired the expertise of Mro Attard and the ability and skill of his assistant, Josef Debrincat, who directed the Intermezzo from L’Amico Fritz. Soloists David Portelli, trumpet, Joseph Debrincat, clarinet, Emi Vella, sax-alto and Joseph Gauci, euphonium, again showed their worth. The 90-piece Leone Band well deserved the big applause proving the appreciation and thanks of all those present.
It was really a short free entertainment for all. Now I am looking forward to the next attraction involving the Leone Band too, the Grand Christmas Show on December 18. It will surely serve to enhance the Christmas spirit.