Fondazzjoni Paulus is once again organising the Rabat Agape Festival, a celebration of music and culture in some of Malta's most historical venues.  This festival serves to celebrate Malta's Pauline heritage and sacred music in the weeks associated with the feasts of St Paul's conversion and shipwreck. 

The festival opens with a solemn Mass at St Paul's collegiate church in Rabat on Thursday 25 January at 6pm.  This church is also the venue for this festival's annual concert on Thursday 1 February at 7.30pm.

During this concert, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra together with the Jubilate Deo choir of Naxxar will be performing Gustav Holst's St. Paul's Suite Op. 29 (Jig, Ostinato, Intermezzo and Finale).  The concert will also feature Paolino Vassallo's Salve Regina, his Missa in honorem Sancti Paoli (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) and a selection from Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Paulus.  This concert will be conducted by the renowned Maltese composer Christopher Muscat and will feature soprano Claire Caruana as soloist.

On Saturday 3 February, Fondazzjoni Paulus will launch two compact discs of live recordings carried out during the 2016 and 2017 annual concerts.  This inauguration is being held at the Verdala Palace under the distinguished patronage of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. 

The compact discs include works by Maestro Ray Sciberras, music from the archives of the Wignacourt Museum, a sacred cantata by Christopher Muscat and the live recording of Marco Frisina's premiere of his oratorio Fino ai Confini della Terra.    

This cultural festival continues at St Publius church in Rabat with a public lecture by Dr Doris Cannataci about St Paul and his influence on the writings of St George Preca and Mons. Giuseppe De Piro on Friday 9 February at 7pm.

The final activity takes place at the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat with the inauguration of an art exhibition by Rabat painter Matthew Cassar and his art students on Saturday 10 February at 6pm.  This activity is being organised with the help of the management of the Wignacourt Museum.

Fondazzjoni Paulus thanks all organisations and individuals who support this festival and encourages the general public to follow the Fondazzjoni Paulus Facebook page for the latest news about the Rabat Agape Festival.   All activities are free of charge and except for the launch of the CDs where an invitation is required, the general public is invited to attend.