Christopher Muscat's 'Stabat Mater' is being performed in aid of medical research. How did this project happen?
This is not the first Easter concert that the RIDT has produced over the years. In fact we had produced another two similar concerts in 2016 and 2017, both as fundraisers for medical research. We then planned a concert for 2020 but we all know what happened, and it had to be shelved. Last year we looked at the situation again and decided to make another attempt. It so happened that 2023 was going to be the 10th anniversary of the premiere of Muscat's Stabat Mater, a monumental work that had received very enthusiastic reviews back then. The work had won a prestigious award for composition by APS Bank. We got in touch with Christopher and started putting the pieces together. It has to be said that this is a big work for orchestra and large choir and it takes a lot of talent and hard work to produce, from a technical point of view. That is where the professionalism of Mro Muscat comes in.
I need to emphasise that this concert would not have happened were it not for the generosity of our sponsors who believed in the initiative and put their resources behind it without any hesitation. These include APS Bank, The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, AirMalta, St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, Visit Malta, Remax, Teatru Manoel and NET TV. We are indebted to their contribution.
What should one expect when attending this concert?
When you put together some of Malta's best musical talent - the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Kor Malta, Jubilate Deo choir, cantor Josef Bugeja and to that you add the voice of international soprano Caroline Bruker, all under the direction of the composer himself, Mro Muscat, you can only expect enchantment. And then take everything inside the breathtaking ambience of St John's Co-Cathedral and you have a magic formula. We are looking forward to a very beautiful evening.
Is this the only way that the RIDT raises funds for research?
Not at all. Our main source of revenue comes from major donations that we receive from corporates, foundations, NGOs and individuals. We also receive other donations from the general public, mainly in the form of donations related to weddings, parties and obituaries, and from a number of payment platforms that are collaborating with us. On top of this we organise our own fundraising initiatives, which are, more often than not, designed around art events. Recently we had a very successful art exhibition with the works of the late Charles "City" Gatt, with proceeds going towards establishing an award in his name within the Department of Music Studies of the University of Malta. Over the years we have organised concerts with artists such as Carmine Lauri, Simon Schembri, Nadine Axisa, Lydia Caruana and Michael Laus. We believe that we can raise funds while giving back quality.
What medical research is happening at the University of Malta?
Much more than one imagines. In fact sometimes we refer to these research activities as Malta's best kept secrets. We all know that as a country we always produced brilliant minds, and some of them are working in the labs at the University of Malta. There is a lot of research happening in the areas of cancer, diabetes, ALS and other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. It is easy to understand that research, particularly medical research, costs a lot of money and the University needs a steady flow of revenue coming from various founts such as the European Commission, the local Government and the local community. This is where we come in, to encourage the local community to support this noble cause.
What about non-medical research?
This fundraising concert is intended to raise funds for medical research, but this does not mean that the RIDT is only looking at this area. Indeed there is a myriad of areas in which world-class research is happening. Areas such as renewable energy and sustainability, social solidarity, art conservation, artificial intelligence and archaeology, just to mention some of them. As RIDT we have just financed an outstanding project in art conservation, with the conservation of the world-famous Great Siege mural in the Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta. The Department of Conservation and Built Heritage of the University, using the most advanced scientific methods for conservation and documentation, undertook the project.
All proceeds will go towards medical research at the University of Malta.
'Stabat Mater' will be performed on Tuesday, 4 April at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta at 8pm. Tickets are available from teatrumanoel.mt or from the booking office of the Manoel Theatre, Old Theatre Street, Valletta.