Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530515
10 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 13 DECEMBER 2024 CULTURE Gaulitanus Choir returns from GOZO'S Gaulitanus Choir has just returned from its 25th ar- tistic choral venture abroad. The choir has been in Portugal, its first ever appearance in the Iberian peninsula, following a long-standing invitation by the Maltese Embassy in Portugal. Very early on Friday 29 Novem- ber, the choir left for Porto. After making the most of the morning touring the charming city, the Gaulitanus had its first artistic commitment in the late after- noon: a concert at the very cen- tral Igreja do Misericordia. The concert was coordinated by the ConcertusProTempore Ensemble. Indeed, its leader, vi- olinist Jacinto Neves, also made a cameo appearance at the con- cert by teaming up with Gaulita- nus violinist Pierre Louis Attard and Gaulitanus musical director Colin Attard and opening the proceedings with the latter's ar- rangement for two violins and keyboard of Emanuele Galea's notorious 'Sinfonia Pastorale'. The concert then proceeded with the Gaulitanus Choir pre- senting a fully Maltese reper- toire. The good audience in at- tendance, led by the director of the Museum and the Igreja do Misericordia, Pedro Nunes, was very receptive, applauding very warmly and affording a standing ovation. The choir reciprocated by giv- ing an encore, the Portuguese song 'Alecrin Dourado', with Mro Attard also presenting me- mentos to Neves and Nunes. Meanwhile, the Maltese Consul in Porto, José Pedro Garcia Fer- nandes, who was unavoidably un- available for the event, also made it a point to pay a courtesy visit to the choir before the start of the concert, during which he ex- pressed his great pleasure for this Maltese-Portuguese collabora- tion, and wished the Gaullitanus Choir the very best for the whole concert tour, while expressing his regret that he could not stay over for the concert. On Saturday afternoon, the choir moved south to Fatima. Upon its arrival the choir was given an exclusive guided tour of the various sites in this devout place, before proceeding to ani- mate mass – thanks to a special arrangement – at the Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Maltese ambassador to Portugal, Performing at the Panteão Nacional