Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1443447
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JANUARY 2022 7 HISTORY GOZO'S Gaulitanus Choir has done its bit to help brighten up the Festive Season for the com- munity as much as possible, while fully adhering with cur- rent health and safety regula- tions. It came up with the sec- ond edition of "Yuletide Bliss", a mini-series of varied musical events between Christmas and the New Year. Artistically di- rected by the choir's founder-di- rector Colin Attard, "Yuletide Bliss" was supported by the Cul- tural Heritage Directorate with- in the Ministry for Gozo. The first event was held on Boxing Day at St Francis Church, Victoria, which pro- vided a wonderful setting to the concert entitled "Festive Strings". The concert featured the Gaulitanus String Orchestra conducted by the mini-series's artistic director Colin Attard and led by Reggie Clews (in the unavoidable absence of Mar- celline Agius). Works from the standard string orchestra repertoire by Warlock, Sibelius and Bartok altered with some Christmassy works by Kowalewski and Col- in Attard. The latter's was "A Christmas Fantasia" for solo violin and strings interpeted by violinist Pierre Louis Attard (again in replacement of Mar- celline Agius). A highly acclaimed rousing encore – an arrangement of the "Carol of the Bells" – was afforded to acknowledge the great reception of the audience present. This included Mr Jo- seph Buttigieg, who represent- ed Minister for Gozo, the Dr Joseph Ellis, Speaker Emeritus Anton Tabone and Fr Etienne Gilson OFM (deputising for the indisposed Fr Superior Jo- seph Xerri). After a planned second event and the participation of the Gaulitanus Choir itself were dropped in view of the health situation prevailing at the time, the series was brought to an end with a quickly re-thought 10th edition of "A New Year's Toast" held at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz on Janu- ary 1st. Violinist Pierre Louis Attard and pianist Milica Law- rence (who were to feature in the cancelled "A Musical Voy- age" concert a few days earli- er) teamed up with the choir's soprano soloists Patricia Butt- igieg and Anna Bonello, thus ensuring that "A New Year's Toast" could go on – the on- ly fixed Gaulitanus-organised choir event which kept going regularly throughout the pan- demic. The concert presented and al- ternation of instrumental and vocal numbers. Violinist and pianist performed works by Weber and Viardot (with the latter probably being given its first performance ever in Mal- ta). The pianist also played a short "Novelette" by Poulenc. Accompanied on the piano by Colin Attard, Patricia Buttigieg interpreted 2 Italian songs by Bellini and Donizetti respec- tively, whereas Anna Bonello gave a rendition of 2 French songs by Poulenc and Satie re- spectively. Violinist Pierre Lou- is Attard joined in for a rous- ing finale: a 3-song Neapolitan medley, in which the audience enthusiastically joined in, clap- ping to the marching rhythm of the last number - which even- tually was encored. The Gaulitanus's Christmas programme also included a Christmas Concert at Victoria's Capuchins's Church on De- cember 15th and two caroling sessions: the first on Saturday 18th December as part of "La Magia di Natale" in Munxar's, and a second one on Christmas Eve at the Kempinski Hotel. In view of the health situa- tion, this much-awaited second event featured only the choir's soprano soloist Patricia Butti- gieg and musical director Colin Attard on the piano were in at- tendance. The Gaulitanus Choir augurs a healthier New Year full of cul- tural events to all. Gaulitanus Choir's 'Yuletide bliss' brightens a bleak Christmas