Din l-Art Ħelwa, National Trust of Malta, has long been recognised for its ongoing work as a voluntary organisation with the crucial ambition of safeguarding “the historic, artistic and natural heritage of Malta”.
The quartet included fun material, intended for an audience of diverse tastes- Peter Farrugia
For this reason, the 46th anniversary autumn dinner was at once a joyful event and a call for future efforts in furthering their important mission.
The evening was well-attended, held within St John’s Cavalier under the auspices of Umberto di Capua, ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
It was interesting to see just how different St James’ must have looked before all the marble cladding, green tubing and glass-work were installed – in fact, the twin Cavaliers were connected by a subterranean passage that was damaged in the Second World War and only sealed for good in the 1970s.
St John’s massive hall provided the setting for various dinner tables that radiated out from a central platform. Anon String Quartet, composed of Marcelline Agius and Nadia Debono on violins, Stephen Galea playing the viola, and Angelica Galea on violoncello, took to the stage and began the recital with a trusted favourite, Pachelbel’s Canon in D. They followed with Mozart (Divertimento no. 3) and Ravel’s popular Bolero. All four played beautifully, and seemed to enjoy themselves in the process.
The quartet was clearly aware of the importance of including less-challenging, fun material, intended for an audience of diverse tastes and attention span – it was a shame the hall had to be hushed several times throughout the relatively short recital. It’s also worth considering the way we treat our musicians.
Their interpretation of a piece of music sets the tone for an evening, but once they’ve finished, taken a bow and been summarily thanked /presented with a token of gratitude, they somehow disappear. What does this say about an audience, and what kind of relationship do we have with the talent that brings us into contact with music?
Interspersed among instrumental pieces, celebrated Gozitan soprano Miriam Cauchi sang several arias and received hearty applause for her rendition of Puccini’s well loved aria O Mio Bambino Caro.
It would be interesting to pause for a moment and consider a perennial point of discussion among opera fans – the issue of vibrato. It seems attitudes towards vibrato are essentially the product of differing aesthetic priorities. The desirability of an aesthetic grounded in cathedral tones is obviously quite different from one which responds to Italian bel canto singing.
Certainly there is no invariably right way to produce sound, and the only real concern should be efficiency, reducing fatigue or the potential for injury while creating a beautiful effect. Vibrato itself is a natural attribute of healthy phonation and may even be ‘better’ for the voice in the long run, as opposed to the straight tone taught by the English school. Still, I find myself returning to voices like Julianne Baird’s time and time again.
The dinner ended with a silent auction for a monochrome watercolour by Marc England. Proceeds will contribute to Din l-Art Ħelwa’s future projects, which include work on St Anthony Battery, the Delimara lighthouse and Our Lady of Victories – the first building erected in Valletta, and a church that’s well loved by the Valletta faithful.
With a projected estimate of over a million euro for the preservation of Our Lady of Victories alone, Din l-Art Ħelwa needs the enduring support of the Maltese public and the patronage of those prepared to dedicate time and funds to persevere in their mission.
It is by fostering a sense of solidarity within the organisation and society in general that these goals will be achieved, not as the accomplishments of a few individuals but the sustained efforts of a nation aware of its heritage, and the supreme importance of its continued preservation.