Symbolum Apostolorum, a music score composed by Maltese Salesian priest Aurelio Mulè Stagno, based on the Latin text of the Apostles’ Creed, was recently premiered at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, East Jerusalem.

Scored for four-part choir and organ, often breaking into six parts, the composition was superbly rendered by the Choir of London, conducted by Jeremy Summerly, with the composer himself accompanying on the Rieger pipe organ.

Joining the Choir of London for this work was The Olive Branches Choir, a polyphonic vocal ensemble of Palestinian Christians from the Bethlehem area, which Fr Mulè Stagno has directed since 2004.

This was one of numerous events that formed part of the Palestine Choral Festival, organised and promoted by the same Choir of London. The events involved 26 local choirs, together with five groups from the UK, Australia, Germany and France.

The Olive Branches Choir itself, among other things, joined the Choir of London during the same festival in two performances of Britten’s St Nicolas Cantata (redubbed as St Nicolas Journeys to Palestine) and the Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Choir (France) for the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré.

Fr Mulè Stagno is now returning to Malta after 28 years serving abroad.