At St John’s co-cathedral, the oratorio San Gregorio Magno was performed by the St Paul’s Choral Society. The oratorio was composed in the 1960s by organist Fr Karm Scerri with lyrics by Albert Cassola. Yesterday’s performance was under the direction of Maestro Hugo Agius Muscat.

The new light installation system was inaugurated by Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit at a gathering at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which is situated right opposite Fort St Angelo.

In his address, Mr Zammit said that the lighting system showed the government’s commitment to the upgrading of Cottonera, where a widespread rehabilitation programme has been under way for quite some time.

The master plan for Vittoriosa will soon be completed, and Fort St Angelo was a priority in the government’s plan for the area’s new look. He said the fortress had been neglected for a number of years and, in addition, there had been several alterations which had not helped preserve this important historical monument.

The new lighting scheme, based on three levels, has cost the government Lm49,000.

Other projects on which the government is working in Cottonera include the Victory Statue in Vittoriosa, a restoration programme of the Senglea bastions, the restoration of St Helen’s Gate in Cospicua and the restoration of the Rinella bastions in Kalkara.