On 25 November, Malta will remember Paolino Vassallo, one of its finest ever composers, with a performance of Vassallo’s monumental Messa da Requiem at the imposing St John’s co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The Messa will be performed by the National Orchestra of Malta, under the direction of Christopher Muscat. Though undoubtedly one of Vassallo’s best works, the Requiem mass has unfortunately never been played in its entirety following the composer’s demise in 1923.

The performance of Vassallo’s Messa da Requiem will be the last in the long series of commemoration activities. For this important occasion, the National Orchestra engaged some of Malta’s leading soloists, namely soprano Miriam Cauchi, mezzo-soprano Claire Massa, tenor Charles Vincenti and bass Noel Galea.

For this performance soloists and orchestra will join forces with the Malta Chorale, the Jubilate Deo Choir and members from the Coro Sinfonico di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.

Vassallo was born in Cospicua on 24 July 1856 and died on the 20 January 1923 in Valletta at the age of 67. Professor Domenico Amore thought him the violin at an early age, and the elements of harmony by Canon Luigi Fenech.

Soon, he realised that his native land did not afford him enough scope to develop his innate talent for music, and at the age of 19 he went to Paris to continue his studies.

It was his good fortune to have as teachers two great composers of the time, Guiraud and Massenet.

In Paris, Vassallo managed to infiltrate the top musical circles while earning his living as first violin at the Opéra Comique.

He later acted as conductor of the orchestra of the same famous theatre.

Vassallo was a prolific composer and his varied output can be clearly classified into three main areas: sacred music; orchestral and operatic music; other light compositions. Back in his native land after the 12-year stint in Paris, Paolino Vassallo had found himself caught between two musical forces that prevailed in Malta at the time: sacred music and opera.

Vassallo is also greatly remembered as a teacher, having taught composers the likes of Carlo Diacono, Giuseppe Caruana and Josie Mallia Pulvirenti, who were to dominate the local musical scene for at least another 50 years after the master’s death.

Entrance to the concert is free of charge. Female patrons are requested to refrain from wearing stiletto or narrow heels.