The Gaulitanus Choir opened its 2017-18 season by giving a full-scale concert at the Xewkija Rotunda on Sunday 26th November. The very well-attended concert was one of the events in the 4th edition of the Malta International Organ Festival. Currently ongoing in Malta and Gozo under the artistic direction of Joseph Lia, the festival also features some high quality international artists.
The concert was divided into 3 sections. The first devoted to classical excerpts included works by Vivaldi, Arcadelt, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. The second sections presented a variety of sacred works by the Gaulitanus Choir's founder-director Colin Attard, who also conducted the concert. The last section was made up of some sacred excerpts in English ranging from Mendelssohn to Monk, Manney, Rutter and Gordon Young. Each section was fittingly introduced by organ improvisations on the church's recently installed organ by the choir's resident accompanist Stephen Attard.
Various choir members - namely Annabelle Zammit, Patricia Buttigieg, Stephanie Portelli, Anna Bonello, Marthese Borg, Joseph Calleja, Robert Xerri and Jean Noel Attard - shared some solo lines as well.
The concert was very well received and the choir was given a standing ovation, which was reciprocated with an encore.
The Gaulitanus Choir now moves on to Italy for a concert-tour in Lombardy, before embarking on a busy Christmas schedule.