The Stella Maris Band of Sliema, under the baton of Michael Pulis, has performed the Oratorio Marija Kewkba tal-Baħar at Stella Maris parish church. Oliver Friggieri penned this oratorio, which has been performed for the second time since 2014 to mark the 125th anniversary of the Stella Maris titular statue and liturgical feast of Our Lady Star of the Sea, patron of Sliema.
The band accompanied soprano Karen Camilleri, tenor Joseph Aquilina, baritone Alfred Camilleri, and the choir, Coro Bel Canto.
To mark this special occasion, the Stella Maris Philarmonic Society donated to the church a set of six hand-painted candles to be placed beside the statue whenever it is out of its niche. The parish priest, Mgr Anton Portelli, reciprocated by donating on behalf of the parish to the band a set of hyms purposely composed, to be played during the procession of the Stella Maris feast.
The band’s next concert is the feast’s annual concert scheduled for August 18 at Annunciation Square, Sliema.
The event ended with Inno Alla Filarmonika Stella Maris, composed by the founder of the society, Mro Ferdinando Camilleri in 1914.