The St Paul Choral Society, one of Malta’s leading polyphonic choirs, on the occasion of the feast of St Cecilia, patron saint of music, is presenting a choral and orchestral concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, at 7.30pm today.

The concert, under the patronage of President Marie Louise Coleiro-Preca and in support of the Richmond Foundation, will feature 19th century works by French composer Charles Gounod.

The concert opens with the Marche Pontificale, which Gounod wrote for the Golden Jubilee of Pope Pius IX, and is now better known as the official anthem of the Vatican State.

The choir then gives the first performance in Malta of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis that Gounod wrote in 1872 while he was living in England.

The concert continues with the rarely-performed Marche Religieuse for orchestra and with two pieces for mezzo-soprano, the Répentir (O Divine Redeemer) and the famous Ave Maria based on a prelude by Bach. These will be sung by Claire Massa.

After the orchestra plays the famous Judex from the oratorio Mors et Vita, the concert reaches its climax with the singing of the Messe Solennelle Sainte Cécile, for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra. The soloists will be Rosabelle Bianchi (soprano), Charles Vincenti (tenor) and Albert Buttigieg (bass).

The orchestra, consisting of 34 musicians, is led by James Zammit and the organist is Elisabeth Conrad.

The concert is under ther direction of Hugo Agius Muscat. Admission is free but those attending are invited to make a donation to the Richmond Foundation.

The concert is being organised in collaboration with the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter and the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation.