Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543228
10 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2026 CULTURE Two important anniversaries at Il-Hagar Museum A very hectic month lies ahead for Il-Ħaġar. Heart of Gozo Museum as it celebrates the 13th anniversary of its inau- guration and, as has become customary, presents a week of cultural, liturgical and social events to mark this important milestone. The programme al- so commemorates Malta and Gozo's foremost contemporary composer, Joseph Vella, on the 8th anniversary of his passing. These events will take place during the week starting 16 February and will reach their climax during the weekend of 20, 21 and 22 February. On Monday 16th, the Byron Consort of Harrow School Choir of London, directed by Michael Evans, will present a vocal recital of sacred music by Palestrina, Bach, Bruckner and Vella, amongst others. The concert will take place at St George's Basilica and will start at 19:30. On Thursday 19th, at 20:00, Francis Camilleri will give a piano recital at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia, located at the back of St George's Ba- silica. Camilleri will perform Schubert's Sonata in G major D. 894, Vella's Sonatina op. 30, and Beethoven's Sonata in F minor No. 23, op. 57 (Appas- sionata). On Friday 20th, events will shift to Il-Ħaġar Museum where, at 19:30, Dr Alexander Vella Gregory will deliver the 8th Joseph Vella Memorial Lecture, titled 'Una Consuetu- dine Anticha': Sacred Music in Dusina's Report of 1575. The lecture will be followed by the inauguration of a documentary exhibition on the piano con- certos of Joseph Vella. The following day, Saturday 21st February at 11:00, we will host a hands-on workshop for children and students with Gozitan artist Clara Azzopardi and her DIJA exhibition cura- tor, Sera Galea. In the evening, at 20:00, Il- Ħaġar Museum, in collabora- tion with the Laudate Pueri Choir of St George's Basili- ca, will present a recital of art songs by Joseph Vella and Alex Vella Gregory. The performers will be Miriam Cauchi (sopra- no), Simon Abdilla Joslin (vi- oloncello), and Maria Frendo and Alex Vella Gregory (pian- oforte). This concert will take place at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia. On Sunday 22nd at 11:00, we will gather at St George's Basilica to give thanks to Al- mighty God for the experi- ence Il-Ħaġar Museum offers to the thousands of visitors it welcomes each year. They will pray for the museum's bene- factors, both those who have passed away and those who are still with us, to whom we all owe so much. Solemn Mass will be celebrated by the Mu- seum's Founder and Curator, Mgr Dr Joseph Farrugia. St George's Basilica's Laudate Pu- eri Choir will perform Joseph Vella's Missa Brevis. Following the celebration of Holy Mass, at 12:30, festivi- ties will continue with a four- course anniversary celebratory luncheon at the award-win- ning Ta' Frenċ Restaurant. For logistical purposes, reserva- tions for this event will be ac- cepted until Friday 20 Febru- ary. All events mentioned here, ex- cept for the anniversary lunch- eon, are free of charge. For seat reservations or any queries, please contact: events@heartof- gozo.org.mt / +356 7956 1540. Il-Hagar Museum in Pjazza San Gorg, Victoria, Gozo