Last Saturday 9th May the Stella Maris Band of Sliema, under the baton of its able conductor Mro.Michael Pulis, BMus, A(Mus)LCM, ALCM, has performed an Oratorio “Marija Kewkba tal-Bahar”, at the Stella Maris Parish Church of Sliema. Professor Oliver Friggieri has penned this Oratorio and has been performed for the first time to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Stella Maris Band and the liturgical feast of Our Lady Star of the Sea, patron of Sliema.

The band accompanied Soprano Karen Camilleri, Tenor Joseph Aquilina, Baritono Alfred Camilleri, and the choir, Coro Bel Canto. The Oratorio was greeted by several warm applauses and a standing ovation from the audience present. This was particulary deserved by the writer, Professor Oliver Friggieri and the composer Mro. Michael Pulis.

The programe also included: l-Inno Marcia – Ta’ Ulied Marija Santissma Stella Maris, komposer Mro. Antonio Darmanin, L-Innu L-Kbir – A Maria Vergine Stella Del Mare, komposer Mro. Ferdinando Camilleri, funder of the Stella Maris Band, and the Popular hym – Lill-Kewkba tal-Bahar, komposer Mro. Michael Pulis.

The Stella Maris Band’s next concert is scheduled for Saturday the 31st May in the main square of Hal Ghaxaq at 7.30pm and another one is to be held on the Thursday the 21st August in Annunciation Square in Sliema. 

The event ended with Inno Alla Filarmonika Stella Maris composed by the founder of the Society Mro. Ferdinando Camilleri in 1914, together with the National Anthom.