One of the most heartening of phenomena in the Maltese islands has been the dramatic growth in public awareness and appreciation of classical music.
Many factors have contributed to this welcome development, foremost of which has been the international acclaim showered on our opera and concert singers, where soprano Miriam Gauci has emerged as one of the most exciting voices on the international opera scene since her debut in 1985 at the famous La Scala in Milan.
The meteoric rise to fame of tenor Joseph Calleja since his debut at short notice as Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth in Gozo, at the age of 19, has also nurtured an impassioned music appreciation, as Mr Calleja struts on the world stage like the Metropolitan of New York and other famous theatres.
Furthermore, it is to be noted that the outstanding success of Classic FM (Britain), broadcast through the Malta University channel Campus FM, has converted many listeners to great classical works.
These ranged from Hildegarde von Bingen, the German medieval mystic, to the Welsh classical composer Karl Jenkins (born 1944) as well as Italian opera and the giants of classical music, the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Handel and Tchaikovsky. In short, the world's most beautiful music.
Classic FM (Britain) was initiated exactly 20 years ago and no media launch has ever been so successful, so quickly.
Within a few months, Classic FM was already the fourth most popular station in Britain and has now achieved further success with a steady audience, winning many awards in the process.
Unquestionably, local radio and television stations have consist-ently given a boost to classical music and the performing arts, particularly local talent, resulting in a sudden mass appeal of classical works.
At this moment, Victoria is widely believed to be the cultural capital of the Maltese islands, branding a new Gozo that, over the past three decades, has consist-ently emerged as a town brimming with cultural activities and with a community fully inspired to build two magnificent theatres bringing world-renowned artistes from all over the globe.
That such a small city of fewer than 7,000 people can scale such Olympian heights is tangible proof of a vibrant community determined to give a “classic example” to all parishes in the Maltese islands, as evidenced in the recently unveiled Victoria International Arts Festival programme of activities.
The Victoria Arts Festival is running up to July 9, bringing to Gozo's magical shores choirs from England – to give us a beautiful rendering of Elizabethan vocal music – and from Norway, who will be performing 15th- to 18th-century Norwegian sacred music.
The artistic director of the festival, Mro Joseph Vella, is very familiar with this type of enchanting music as he and Mgr Ġwann Azzopardi were instrumental in the 1980s’ revival of Maltese sacred music that had languished for centuries in the archives of the Mdina cathedral.
The festival includes various concerts and recitals from Europ-ean top performers as well as the cream of local talent.
Indeed, our sister island, particularly Victoria, has maintained an impressive cultural portfolio giving us a variety of activities, thus fully deserving of the ever-growing reputation for outstanding performances free of charge, although donations would be appreciated.
In this festival of glittering choices, which have always been musically brilliant and orchestrally outstanding, I am sure that the Victoria International Arts Festival will regale us with magnificent choral singing in a stunning baroque setting.