Conductor Colin Attard

Conductor and musician Colin Attard, with his wild, curly hair, is a familiar figure on the local music scene, especially in his native Gozo. His energy is as boundless and dynamic as his hair, and I know few local musicians who are as energetic as he is.

At this time of the year, Gozo rings to the sound emanating from the music events of the Gaulitana: A Festival of Music. Very much Attard’s baby, the festival has been going on for many years.

This year’s edition, which started last week, features 21 events, and a full-scale opera production. Very calmly Attard informs me that some considered it madness for a choir which does not own a theatre or opera house to undertake a production of one of Puccini’s perennial favourites, Tosca.

“Gaulitanus Choir has joined forces with Taormina Festival for the opera,” says Attard. “As far as I know, this is the first time that a local and foreign festival organisation have collaborated in this way.

“We wanted to expand the festival. In view of the popularity of opera, particularly this one, we felt we could take the chance. I am very hopeful that this will be a success. The cast is headed by one of the current best interpreters of the title role – soprano Norma Fantini and top Italian tenor Piero Giuliacci as Mario Cavaradossi.

Some considered it madness for a choir which does not own a theatre or opera house to undertake a production of one of Puccini’s perennial favourites

“The evil Scarpia will be sung by emerging baritone Francesco Landolfi. Bass Louis Cassar will sing the part of the Sacristan. The opera design and artistic direction are by a leader in the field, Enrico Castiglione, while I shall conduct the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gaulitanus Choir.”

In order to stage this opera, the choir hired the Aurora Opera House where Attard is resident music director in charge of the annual October opera presentations there.

“We normally prepare for the following year’s opera as soon as the current one is over. However, this time we had very little time to make the final arrangements. The opportunity presented itself and it was too good to miss. After all, we constantly aim to improve the festival.”

Amen to that, one concurs. While all activities carry a certain weight, particular highlights include a concert at St Augustine’s church by the Elysian Chamber Choir from the UK. The late Sir John Tavener described the choir as “one of the best” he ever heard. The concert also features a premiere of Attard’s The Lord is my Shepherd.

Other highlights include a double-bill by Polish mezzo-soprano Agata Benkowka; sacred music by the St Paul Choral Society under the direction of Hugo Agius Muscat; a violin and piano recital by Ana Maria Badia Nikiforova and Noriko Ushioda; Italian contemporary music performed by the Synapsis trio; and an organ recital in the basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xagħra byAlexander Frey.

The festival will also feature the premieres of Joseph Vella’s John XXIII Mass and Attard’s John Paul II Mass, composed to celebrate the canonisation of these two great Popes.

Gaulitana runs until May 10. Admission to all concerts is free, except for the opera. More details about the programme are at www.gaulitanus.com.