Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542413
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 JANUARY 2026 CULTURE 2026 marks the 50th anniversary since the inauguration of Teat- ru tal-Opra Aurora, the seat of the Leone Philharmonic Society in Victoria Gozo. It is an anni- versary that will be celebrated through various events, and on various counts, the first of which will be a tribute to its historic contribution to cinema heritage. Hence, Aurora Resounds – an evening of film music by the Le- one Band and conductor Colin Attard on Saturday 24th January 2026 at 8pm. Many know the Aurora as an opera house and rightly so. But Aurora (1976) carries the name and the legacy of a former Auro- ra (1963), the outright foremost cinema on the island. The first Aurora itself carried the torch of a former Royal Talk- ies, the first ever talkies in Gozo, opened on 5th January 1931. It ran silent movies shows every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for four years, until 'Two Hearts in Waltztime' be- came the first ever talking movie screened on the island in January 1935. To the Aurora are credited the glorious days of cinema in Gozo in its golden age. Quite natural- ly, however, the death of cine- ma within the Aurora, in 1997, marked a natural transition and evolution as cinema technology became more advanced and so- phisticated and moved into spe- cific cinema theatres. Yet, the Aurora with two pairs of fully functioning projectors stands as a temple and sanctuary of cinema heritage on the island. Aurora Resounds will celebrate all of this, with an extraordinary display of cinema machinery, memorabilia, archived footage and interviews, and above all, sumptuous musical masterpiec- es that made the greatest block- busters so memorable. A story to be retold Aurora Resounds appeals to all those who love cinema and cin- ema music. But it will also be a trip down memory lane for those who can reminisce the golden days of the seventies when the Aurora was being built as the largest com- munity project on the island. The evening will come with lots of music but also with a powerful narrative of which so many can share. To this end, the Aurora admin- istration is calling on all those, locals and foreigners, who have a story to share about the Aurora, to establish contact and contrib- ute to an extraordinary collec- tion of stories being compiled about the place, its people and its guests. Stories are welcomed in writing on teatruaurora@leo- ne.org.mt or by appointment on +356 79045779. Aurora Resounds is the open- ing event of the 2026-2027 50th anniversary special season cel- ebrating the 50 years of Aurora (1976) and opera in Gozo (1977). It is organised by the Leone Philharmonic Society and Tea- tru tal-Opra Aurora, supported by the Cultural Heritage Direc- torate within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning. Entrance is free of charge. Reservations are strongly recommended. The concert starts at 2000hrs. Other events in the season, for which tickets are already out on sale include the opera La Traviata, on 17th October 2026. Tickets available from +356 79045779 or www.teatruaurora.com, or tea- truaurora@leone.org.mt. Teatru tal-Opra Aurora celebrates 50th anniversary HSBC Malta Foundation supports over 30 NGOs with its largest community giving initiative to date THIS Christmas, the HSBC Malta Foundation once again brought the spirit of giving to life, supporting over 30 NGOs across Malta through one of its most im- pactful festive initiatives to date. The Foundation coordinated a nationwide effort that trans- formed its executive boardroom into a central hub for generosity and collaboration, supported by HSBC Malta employees and four local schools who helped collect essential goods and gifts for those in need. Their combined contri- bution enabled the initiative to reach communities facing a wide range of social challenges during the festive season. The support provided ranged from food, personal care items, educational materials, and chil- dren's gifts. For the first time, monetary donations were ex- tended to animal welfare organ- isations, recognising their vital role within Maltese society and the broader community. Commenting on the initiative, Geoffrey Fichte, the CEO of HS- BC Malta, on behalf of the HSBC Malta Foundation, said: "This Christmas initiative reflects our commitment to supporting com- munities across Malta. The col- lective effort of our employees, partner schools, and beneficiary organisations has allowed us to make a meaningful difference during a time when support mat- ters most." Dorita Maniscalco, Head of St. Nicholas College, said: "Rabat Primary School contributed a generous donation of food items as part of the Reverse Advent Calendar initiative, supporting children in need during this fes- tive season. This effort forms part of an HSBC campaign aimed at helping people in need, reflecting our commitment to community care and solidarity." Represenatvies from the partic- ipating schools also highlighted the importance of community involvement in initiatives such as this, noting the positive impact of engaging students in acts of gen- erosity and social responsibility. HSBC Malta employees further embodied the festive spirit by ac- tively contributing time, resourc- es, and creativity to support the Foundation's efforts, reinforcing the importance of compassion and collective action. The HSBC Malta Foundation's Christmas initiative continues to grow as a meaningful annual tradition, demonstrating the last- ing impact of collaboration and kindness, whilst spreading hope, warmth, and positivity across Malta during the holiday season. The four local schools which helped collect essential goods and gifts for those in need: St Dorothy's Junior School; Pri- mary School Rabat, St Nicholas College; St Francis Secondary School and St Joan Antide Prima- ry School. The NGOs which benefitted: AAA Malta Association; ALS Malta; Angela House; Building Bridges; Caritas Malta; Dar Ho- sea; Dar il-Kaptan; Dar tal-Prov- idenza; Djakonija Zurrieq; Fran- ciscan Welfare Association – Qawra; Inspire; Gzira Parish Church; LOOP; MSPCA; RISe; RMJ's Horse Rescue; S.T.A.N.D.; Smiling with Jerome; SOAR; St Jean Antide Foundation; Suriet il-Bniedem; The Food Bank Life Line Foundation; The Foundation for the Ukrainian Community in Malta; The Island Sanctuary; The Life Network Foundation; The MCAST Outreach Services and Student Affairs; The Migrants Commission; The National Foster Care Association; The Optomist Club of Malta; The Soup Kitchen in Valletta; The Valletta Commu- nity Service, and YMCA. HSBC Malta employees actively contributed time, resources, and creativity to support the Foundation's efforts