The Classical Music Appreciation Group of the German-Maltese Circle resumes its monthly presentations at Messina Palace, the Circle’s premises, at 141 St Christopher Street, Valletta, on Friday at 6.30 p.m.

The opening presentation for this season is, fittingly enough, devoted to Franz Liszt (1811-1886), whose second birth centenary fell yesterday.

Aldo Fenech, The Sunday Times’ classical CD reviewer, will be presenting highlights from the rarely-performed oratorio Christus, which was written between 1862 and 1866.

This was a year after Liszt, the virtuoso pianist and ladies’ darling, to general astonishment took minor orders in Rome. It was first performed at the Protestant Stadtkirche in Weimar on May 29, 1873.

The oratorio – scored for orchestra, soloists and choir – is in three parts dealing with Christ’s birth, his adult life and the Passion, with the text using excerpts from the Bible, Catholic liturgy and ancient Latin hymns.

Fenech will also play recordings of two other works by Liszt: his Hungarian Fantasy for piano, written in 1852, and the symphonic poem Mazeppa (1851).

Those attending are to submit their names and e-mail addresses to be included in the group’s mailing list.