Tomorrow the 11.00am Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta, will certainly be a very uplifting and unusual experience for the congregation. There will be a very special sung Mass by three choirs who are joining forces for this very special event.
The NORTH WEST FESTIVAL CHOIR, based in the Erin Arts Centre in the Isle of Man, but having members coming from all over the UK, will be joining forces with the singers of the MARIE THERESE VASSALLO VOICE STUDIO and KOR FJUR TAL-KARMELU (BALLUTA) for the occasion. The Directors of the three choirs have been in contact for the last year, in preparation for this event. The main work to be sung will be "Missa Brevis Et Solemnis in C Major - SPATZENMESSE" ("Sparrow Mass"), by W.A. Mozart, which all three choirs have been studying during these last few weeks. As this will be the usual Sunday Mass, all the other music in the Liturgy will be sung and the English speaking Choristers will also participate in the singing of the Maltese Hymns.
The North West Festival Choir, under the direction of Dr. John Bethell, will consist of 53 singers. The Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio and the Kor Fjur Tal-Karmelu (Balluta), under the direction of Ms. Marie Therese Vassallo, will be made up of about 40 singers. Dr. Bethell and Ms. Vassallo will be taking turns to direct the Mass Choir throughout the Mass. Soloists from both choirs will be participating in the singing.
This event will be part of the "GLORIA" International Music Festival (2nd Making Music Malta Festival), which is being held between the 11 - 17 October.
The Maltese Soloists, Soprano Joan Camilleri, Mezzo-Soprano Marie Therese Vassallo, Contraltos Vanessa Magro and Miriam Camilleri, Tenors Albert Callus and Paul Gatt, Baritone Marvic Aquilina and Bass and Piano Accordeonist Charles Axiak, accompanied on the Pianoforte by Rita Paris will be giving a performance of Neopolitan Songs during a Gala Dinner in aid of the Richmond foundation. This will be held tomorrow at 7pm at the Hotel Le Meridien St. Julian's. The performance will be under the Musical and Artistic direction of Ms. Marie Therese Vassallo. This performance will also be the inauguration of the MCI Grand Bluthner Pianoforte which has now moved from the Ballroom of the Hotel Phoenicia, where it resided for 60 years, to its NEW HOME in the Hotel Le Meridien St. Julian's
The English Soloists, Soprano Karen Johnson, Mezzo-Soprano Adrienne Murray, Tenor David Shaw and Baritone Philip Smith, accompanied on the Piano by Kevin Thraves, will be performing during a "Grand Opera Gala", which will be the Inaugural Concert of the Malta Cultural Institute 2009/ 2010 Concert Season. The performance will be under the Artistic and Musical Direction of Dr. John Bethell. This event will be held as an "MCI Monday Ovation" on Monday 12 October at 7pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana. Entrance to this event is free of charge and all are most welcome.
Further information about these three events may be obtained by phoning Marie Therese Vassallo on Tel: 21338923, Mob: 99800409 or by Email: [email protected]