Circolo Gozitano is this year commemorating the 100th anniversary of its foundation in 1913 as an entity to promote Gozo’s and Gozitan interests.
These celebrations recently culminated in a grand concert of operatic music by Chorus Urbanus in Independence Square, Victoria.
The choir, under the direction of Mro John Galea, performed an entertaining selection of famous and popular operatic music with a strong element of music by Giuseppe Verdi.
The programme opened with Barcaruola from L’Elisir d’Amor by Donizetti, with the participation of soloists Noel Galea and Yvonne Galea, accompanied by the choir.
Another Donizetti piece was the famous chorus Per te d’Immenso Giubilo from Lucia di Lammermoor, with the participation of soloist Mario Portelli.
The first part of the concert ended with Mozart’s Bella Vita Militar from the comic opera Cosi Fan Tutte, with the participation of soloists Noel Galea, Charles Buttigieg, Portelli, Yvonne Galea and Hilda Grima.
The remaining part of the concert was almost entirely dedicated to music by Verdi on the occasion of the Verdian centenary celebrations. O Signore del Tetto Natio from I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata and Patria Oppressa from Macbeth were two sublime pieces that are fine examples of the strong patriotic element in Verdi’s music.
The Coro dei Gitani from Il Trovatore and La Vergine degli Angeli from La Forza del Destino were two other pieces that went down well with the audience.
The latter piece was performed by Yvonne Galea, accompanied by the choir’s male section.
The programme included two solo pieces, Sul Labbro de Veggenti from Nabucco, sung by Noel Galea, and the popular O Mio Babbino Caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, sung by Yvonne Galea.
This very well-attended concert ended with two famous choruses, the first from Bellini’s opera Norma, the grandiose Norma Viene, and with perhaps the most famous chorus of all operatic music, Verdi’s Va Pensiero from Nabucco. Throughout the concert, the choir was accompanied by pianist Maria-Elena Farrugia.
At the end of the concert, Circolo Gozitano president Alfred Grech delivered a commemorative speech outlining milestones in the Circolo’s chequered history throughout its 100 years of existence.
The concert was presided by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo and other Members of Parliament and various distinguished guests, including members of the Circolo Gozitano.