Established musicians and choristers have come together under the leadership of Maestro Michael Laus and formed the Goldberg Ensemble Malta – the first of its kind on the island.

The innovative idea is to have a fixed group of professional musicians working with a group of singers as one ensemble, it said in a statement.

To mark this newly formed collaboration, the ensemble devised a multidimensional project, called Rejoice, which brings together a number of art forms – music, dance and photography – as well as having an educational dimension.

The culmination of this project will be the performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Goldberg Ensemble and a number of collaborators including established Maltese soloists Gillian Zammit, Claire Massa and Albert Buttigieg, and internationally renowned English tenor Nicholas Mulroy.

The performance will take place on January 11 at St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, at 7.30pm.

A photographic exhibition inspired by Handel’s music, but reinterpreted in a contemporary fashion through dance and lighting will also be held in the foyer of The Palace Hotel, Sliema, in February.

Rejoice is endorsed by the Arts Council Malta through Malta Arts Fund sponsorship. The project is also sponsored by The Palace Hotel and Mediterranean Insurance Brokers.

Tickets for Messiah are available, at €14, from King Shoes (Ecco) outlets in Valletta, San Ġwann and Baystreet Level 0, or by calling the ticket hotline 9988 1057.