After several years without a proper church organ, one the country’s foremost churches is about to reverberate to the sound of this magnificent instrument.
The scene is set for Tuesday 7pm at St Publius church where a choral and organ concert is to be held to inaugurate the church’s new electronic digital organ.
The evening will feature Organist Robert Buhagiar who will play solo pieces and will also accompany the New Choral Singers choir under the direction of Robert Calleja.
This special occasion, being in the heart of the Festive Season, will regale the audience with a splendid Christmas concert enriched by the resounding sound of a full orchestra enclosed in an oak wooden cabinet.
St Publius church in Floriana is renowned not just for its size, its central position and imposing facade, but also for its works of arts and riches. The arrival of this new organ is yet another milestone of the last 10 years since Fr Richard Borg was entrusted with the spiritual and administrative care of Floriana as Archpriest.
Under his guidance and with the help of benefactors and volunteers, projects that for whole generations have been tagged as ‘dreams’, have become, ‘dreams come true’.
The list includes: the replacement of irreparable damask, new marble altar and lectern, permanent electricity installation on the facade and all the facets of the steeples and dome, a complete restoration and refurbishing of St. Publius Hall (the crypt), maintenance work on all the roofs and the repainting of the whole edifice, restoration work on numerous paintings, a set of brand new large chandeliers, and now this.
It is envisaged, that with the inauguration of the new in instrument, St Publius church at Floriana could be yet another venue for future solo organ recitals or as an accompanying instrument to vocal soloists or choirs.
This is going to be a truly fitting climax to two years during which Floriana celebrated its fourth Centenary (1610-2010) of Bishop Tommaso Gargallo’s declaration of St Publius as one of the patron saints and protectors of Malta.