Gozo's Gaulitanus Choir will be presenting an end-of-summer open-air concert, thus following the choir's successful initiative of returning to live events in early August. The concert, organised with the support of the Cultural Heritage Directorate (Ministry for Gozo), is being held on Friday 25 September at 7.30pm at the Ministry for Gozo's Courtyard, Victoria.
Entitled "Blazing Away With Hope", the event intends to keep transmitting the much-needed positivity through music, whilst being very much considerate of the current restrictions and in full compliance with the current health and safety standards for live open-air performances. Indeed, the capacity will again be restricted. While entrance is for free, reservations on first-come-first served basis have to be made on [email protected]. Meanwhile, the full health and safety procedures being adopted can be found on www.gaulitanus.com.
The concert will feature violinist Pierre Louis Attard, himself very active within the Gaulitanus's ranks also being festival manager at Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, and two of the choir's soprano soloists, Annabelle Zammit and Patricia Buttigieg. The Gaulitanus Choir itself will also be in attendance, thus making its first appearance since the pandemic struck. Artistic director Colin Attard will be accompanying and directing.
In line with the concert's theme, the chosen repertoire will be a rather 'light' classical and semi-classical one - which should be enjoyed by one and all. The numbers presented by the two sopranos will all focus on the British theatre. Numbers from Gilbert and Sullivan's end-of-the-nineteenth century light Savoy operas will alternate with enchanting songs from Ivor Novello's early-twentieth century musicals, as well as with some of the best-loved numbers from Andrew Lloyd Webber's contemporary shows.
The vocal numbers will be fittingly complimented by quite a few lively and catchy pieces for violin. Pierre Louis Attard will indeed interpret a selection of vivacious classical works by Kreisler, Hubay and Busoni, followed by some contrasting upbeat and charming popular Latin and rhapsodic works.
The evening comes to an end with the Gaulitanus Choir - currently in its 30th anniversary year - joining the three soloists for a concluding grand medley of British and American marches composed a century ago - indeed, all intended to instil hope and optimism at a time when the world was similarly facing another very tough time during WW1.
www.gaulitanus.com