Eden Leisure Group director Kate De Cesare, former DLĦ president Simone Mizzi and organ restorer Robert Buhagiar.

To celebrate the restoration of the 18th century Positivo Organ at Our Lady of Victories church, Valletta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, supported by the Eden Leisure Group, will present an organ and vocal recital tomorrow.

The historic instrument is made up of 271 pipes and it disappeared from the public eye while being kept in storage for safe keeping by the Valletta Regeneration Committee when this had been organising the early restoration of the church of Our Lady of Victories.

Brought back to the church when it was entrusted in guardianship to DLĦ by the government in November 2011, the organ is a simple one-manual instrument rare in Malta today.

When played it still projects the original timbre and pitch intended for it in the 18th century. Its own original antique carved wooden cabinet was also discovered in the church by DLĦ together with its ‘finto’ pair, and painstaking restoration of both revealed original gilt and paint in the Sicilian decorative style below layers of grey overcoat.

Organist Hugo Agius Muscat, who has personally followed the history of this organ for several decades, will play the organ during the inaugural recital, accompanied in parts by baritone Joseph Lia.

The musical programme, chosen specially for an organ of this pitch and age by Agius Muscat, will contain excerpts from Corelli, Bach, Zipoli, Durante, Oxinagas, Caccini, and Maltese composers Grech, Galea and Azzopardi.

The concert is being held at Our Lady of Victories church, Valletta, tomorrow at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketline.com.mt, from Din l-Art Ħelwa on info@dinlarthelwa.org or from Our Lady of Victories church, 9963 7409.