Gozo's Gaulitanus Choir has done its bit to help brighten up the festive season, while fully adhering with current Covid-19 regulations.
The choir came up with the Yuletide Bliss, a mini-series of three varied musical events between Christmas and the New Year. Artistically directed by the choir's founder-director Colin Attard, Yuletide Bliss was supported by the Cultural Heritage Directorate within the Ministry for Gozo.
The first event was held on 27 December at the Sannat Parish Church. Entitled Strings in Concert, this featured the Gaulitanus String Orchestra led by Marcelline Agius and conducted by Mro Attard. Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Jenkins's concerto grosso Palladio, Rowley's A Christmas Suite, Beethoven's Adagio Cantabile and Morricone's Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso were performed. A few prominently featured Agius with her enchanting violin tone as soloist. The extremely well-received concert was attended by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.
The second event was held on 29 December at the Kempinski San Lawrenz. Entitled Folk-Inspired: A Violin-Piano Recital, this featured up-and-coming Gozitan violinist Pierre Louis Attard and Serbian-born pianist Milica Lawrence in a most atypical repertoire consisting of a number of flowing and catchy folk-inspired classical works from different countries - some introduced locally by Attard himself. Works by US's Charles Ives, Poland's Wieniawski and Bacewicz, Spain's De Falla and Malta's own Alex Vella Gregory and Stephen Attard were performed to the appreciation of an audience which filled the hall to capacity.
On 1 January, the mini-series was brought to an end with the ninth edition of A New Year's Toast. Due to the restrictions and capacity regulations, this year's edition was held at the Ghajnsielem Parish Church. The concert was dedicated to the memory of Dorian Hendriks, a Dutch choir member who passed to better life a few weeks ago. It opened with a varied selection of vocal and instrumental Christmassy or sacred numbers performed by the Gaulitanus Choir's two soprano soloists, Anna Bonello and Patricia Buttigieg, guest soprano Georgina Gauci and violinist Pierre Louis Attard accompanied by Mro Attard. The latter were then joined by a socially-distanced Gaulitanus Choir for A Yuletide Celebration, a grand medley of Christmas songs arranged for the occasion by Mro Attard, with Stephen Attard accompanying on the organ and Mro Attard himself conducting.
The choir's Christmas programme also included a caroling session around Gharb's main streets on 30 December, organised by the Gharb Local Council.
The Gaulitanus Choir augurs a healthier year with even more cultural events.
Photos credit: Lorne Cremona