It was a month later than usual and not exactly a concert for this festive time of the year. However, the Foundation Day concert presented by the University of Malta at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, was early enough for Michael Laus, at the helm of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, to wish the audience a very happy Christmas.
It had been a very pleasant concert with music by Charles Camilleri, Vaughan Williams, Rossini, Ahmed Adnan Saygun, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns.
The concert begun with John Galea’s Bħan-nida li tinżel, the University’s hymn to lyrics by Joe Friggieri. This was sung by the combined voices of the Chorus Urbanus, the University Vocal Ensemble and the Goldberg Ensemble.
On a side note, when will they lower the deafeningly painful loud safety announcements that precede performances at the MCC?
There was no pain in the ears, however, at the splendid performance of this year’s Carols by Candlelight by Xagħra’s Schola Cantorum Jubilate directed by Maroushka Attard at the Augustinian Church in Victoria.
A full church for the two performances must have gratified the organisers, as must have the spontaneous standing ovation at the end of the first performance.
I have come to expect nothing but the best from this choir, which, yet again, lived up to its reputation as one of the best in these islands.
There was no pain in the ears, however, at the splendid performance of Carols by Candelight by Xagħra’s Schola Cantorum Jubilate
There were of course the usual traditional carols but this was no run of the mill performance. There was a strong dose of the traditional and others of the same ilk but set to contemporary and very difficult arrangements and interpreted with flying colours. These concerts were in aid of Dar Ġuża Debono, which this year celebrated its 30th anniversary. Keeping company with the above choir at the top choral echelons is the islands’ only male choir, Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, directed by Alex Vella Gregory, which gave an impeccable performance at the beautiful monastery church of St Catherine in Valletta’s Lower Republic Street. This was a repeat of the previous evening’s performance at Lija parish church. Both concerts were in aid of the restoration of the latter church’s vault, painted by Giuseppe Calì.
It is a pity that on the same morning, with half an hour apart, there was the St James’s Consort led by Sarah Spiteri and featuring soprano Marita Bezzina in a concert at that equally beautiful gem, Tal-Pilar church. I could only hear the last three items on the programme in a concert presented in aid of the University’s research programme.
Another beautiful Valletta location is the Franciscan oratory, also in Republic Street. In a lunchtime recital presented there by Barocco Events, that bubbly young soprano Dorothy Baldacchino, accompanied by pianist Ramona Zammit Formosa, sang a series of Christmas carols and songs.
On a larger scale was the annual Prelude to Christmas by the Amadeus Chamber Choir; this choir, celebrating its 25th anniversary, was joined by Mary’s Angels Choir (dir. Roberta Farrugia).
Both choirs and orchestra were directed by Brian Cefai. There was a varied mix of solos, duets, choral and purely orchestral pieces. I do think that the Gloria from Puccini’s was a bit too long and out of place. There were some lovely solos, especially Cefai’s own arrangement of Cale’s Hallelujah, beautifully sung by Ali Dilber.
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has the last word in this round-up.
Ever on good form, and beginning with Corelli’s lovely Christmas Concerto, the MPO, under the direction of John Galea, presented a concert at St Julian’s parish church.
While I liked Galea’s Missa Fons Vitae which I heard for the first time, and really enjoyed hearing the solo contributions of soprano Yvonne Galea and bass Noel Galea, an entire Mass is a bit too long and out of place in a concert of this kind.
John Galea’s lovely Ave Maria was given its premier this evening and was warmly interpreted by the soprano. The concert ended with a resounding and well-controlled Hallelujah chorus by Handel.