On Friday, 21 November, the St Paul Choral Society, one of Malta's leading polyphonic choirs, on the occasion of the feast of St Cecilia, patron saint of music, will present a choral and orchestral concert at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The music will all be by 19th century French composer Charles Gounod. The concert is under the patronage of the President of Malta and will be in support of the Richmond Foundation.

The concert will open with the Marche Pontificale, which Gounod wrote for the Golden Jubilee of Pope Pius IX, and is now better known as the official anthem of the Vatican State. The choir will then give the first performance in Malta of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis that Gounod wrote in 1872, while he was living in England.

The concert continues with the Marche Religieuse for orchestra, a rarely performed work, and then with two pieces for mezzo-soprano, the Répentir (O Divine Redeemer) and the famous Ave Maria based on a Prelude by Bach. Claire Massa will be the soloist in these two pieces. After the orchestra plays the famous Judex from the oratorio Mors et Vita, the concert will reach its climax with the singing of the Messe Solennelle Sainte Cécile, for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra. The soloists will be Rosabelle Bianchi (soprano), Charles Vincenti (tenor) and Albert Buttigieg (bass).

The orchestra, consisting of 34 musicians, will be led by James Zammit. The organist will be Dr Elisabeth Conrad and the concert will be under the direction of Dr Hugo Agius Muscat.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and will be around an hour and long. Admission will be free but those attending will be invited to make a donation to the Richmond Foundation. Ladies are reminded to wear shoes without stiletto or narrow heels.

The concert is being organised in collaboration with the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter and the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation.