The next concert organised by Barocco Cultural Events will be O Divine Redeemer – Sacred Music for Lent at Sagrestia Vault, Valletta Waterfront on Friday, 25 March at 7.30pm.
Tenor Joseph Aquilina and soprano Anita Cauchi will be performing. Their repertoire will include some of the most profound and well-known sacred arias, which range from the baroque to the modern period. The operatic duo will be performing, among others, Schubert’s and Mascagni’s Ave Maria, Gounod’s O Divine Redeemer, Mendelssohn’s O For the wings of a Dove and Mozart’s Ave Verum. Ramona Zammit Formosa, who will also be performing a number of piano solos for the occasion, will accompany the duo on the piano.
After completing his vocal studies in Malta and London, Joseph is presently under the guidance of Juliette Bisazza Zanni. Aquilina performed principle roles in Cavalleria Rusticana, Madama Butterfly, The Merry Widow, La Principessa della Czarda, I Paesi dei Campanelli, L’Acqua Cheta and Chess. His concert appearances include: Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Hayden’s Missa Brevis, Gounod’s Messa Solenne and Sammut’s Requiem, among others.
Recently, Joseph recorded works of John Galea at The Bulgarian National Radio, together with The Sofia Collegium Symphony Orchestra, in Bulgaria. Joseph has several CD recordings released, to his credit.
Since her debut, Anita Cauchi established herself both as a recitalist and opera singer. Anita commenced her studies and is still being coached by Soprano Antoinette Miggiani- ARAM. She has taken part in various concerts, the most notable ones being Vivaldi’s Gloria, Benigno Zerafa’s Magnificat and the commemoration of the Dead Russians of the Second World War all held at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
After participating with success in the Eisteddford Llangollen competition in Wales, Ms Cauchi had the opportunity to be accompanied by International Maltese clarinetist Freddie Mizzi during the official opening of the Institute of Visual arts School.
Winner of the first Melita-Rossia – Russian Lyrical song competition held at the Russian cultural centre, Ms Cauchi was invited to give a series of recitals in Moscow at the Ippolitov Ivanov Institute where she also had the opportunity to sing with international soprano Lydia Abramova. Later she joined the Manoel on Tour concerts held in Italy organised by the Manoel Theatre.
O Divine Redeemer is being organised with the kind support of Bank of Valletta, Olimpus Music, Phoenicia Hotel and History Highlights.
For bookings phone on 7968 0952; email: [email protected]. Prices are at €12, €10 for concessionaries and €5 for students. Refreshments follow the concert. Transport is also available on request.