Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539941
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 OCTOBER 2025 CULTURE Gaulitanus Choir returns from Czechia concert tour GOZO'S Gaulitanus Choir is currently marking its 35 years of music-making. A key cel- ebratory event was a concert tour in Czechia between the 11th and the 16th September. This concert tour – the choir's 26th foray overseas – initially ensued from a Gau- litana: A Festival of Music artistic collaboration with the Czech 'Halir Trio' and its leader Eduardo Garcia Salas, who was fundamental for the concert tour's organisation. However, this collaboration was eventually substantially broadened to include 3 Czech choral groups: Prague's 'En Arché Komorní Sbor', Plzeň's 'Česká Píseň Plzeň', and Jihla- va's 'Pěvecké Sdružení Cam- panula Jihlava'. Indeed, each of these 3 choirs organized a con- cert for the Gozitan choir and also participated in it. Whereas each Czech choir opened the proceedings on its own before leaving the stage to the Gauli- tanus, the cherry on the cake was the grand ending of each concert when the Czech choir joined the Gozitan choir for the 'Innu lil Għawdex' – which must have been a first for any foreign choir – and the Czech song 'Potěšení'. The first concert was held at Prague's St Salvator Evan- gelical Church – so much re- nowned for its excellent acous- tics – together with Prague's 'En Arché Komorní Sbor' led by prominent Czech musician Vojtěch Jouza. A second con- cert was held at Plzeň's Church of St John of Nepomuk – an important cultural landmark in the city – jointly with the 'Česká Píseň Plzeň', also con- ducted by Vojtěch Jouza. The third concert was in Jihlava's Gothic Town Hall – the iconic landmark of the home city of the great composer and con- ductor Gustav Mahler – along the 'Pěvecké Sdružení Cam- panula Jihlava' conducted by Pavel Jirák. Towards the end of each concert mementos were very warmly exchanged. The collaborative spirit was further enhanced when the Czech and Maltese choir members socialized during the post-concert dinners. This surely reached a most lively climax in Jihlava, which was also the Gaulitanus' last night in Czechia, when both choirs even entertained each other with some fun singing. These concerts apart, the Gaulitanus Choir also had the opportunity to perform in two of the most prestigious venues in Prague and indeed in the whole Czech Republic. Indeed, the choir's first artistic event in Prague was at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Vitus, the grand Gothic church within Prague Castle and the country's most important church, where the choir animated the holy mass and then gave a mini-concert. This was followed by a short tour of the Cathedral. The Gau- litanus also animated the Sun- day morning mass at the stu- pendous Strahov Monastery's Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, following which the choristers were of- fered a tour of the monastery's unique library and museum. Truly, artistic events apart, the Gaulitanus contingent al- so had time to indulge in some other very culturally-enrich- ing sightseeing tours. Prague, Plzeň and Jihlava apart, the group travelled to some top UNESCO world heritage sites. Cesky Krumlov is astounding and the Gaulitanus was offered a private tour of the castle with its unique baroque thea- tre – where the choir was also invited to sing an impromptu excerpt. Some similar singing took place in the very historic square in Telč and its impres- sive Dům u Michala Renais- sance house. The choir also visited the picturesque Žďár nad Sázavou with its magnif- icent Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk on the hilltop, as well as the utterly charming and wonderful Kutna Hora. In line with its ambassadorial role as a main choral exponent of local culture abroad, the Gaulitanus Choir's repertoire consisted exclusively Maltese music, most of which in the vernacular. The works per- formed were by Carmelo Pace, Giuseppe Caruana, Joseph Vel- la, the choir's director Colin Attard, chorister Pierre Louis Attard, and the choir's late res- ident pianist Stephen Attard. Indeed, the choir marked the latter's 1st anniversary from his passing by performing his last oeuvre, the "Quddiesa 'Madon- na Ta' Pinu". During this concert tour, which was supported by Visit- Malta, the choir was led by its founder-director Colin Attard.