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9 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 20 FEBRUARY 2026 CULTURE Malta's La Valette band in concert, at Gozo's Teatru Aurora, this March What's about sacred and funerary music? Although civic bands are pri- marily secular, sacred works and music with religious significance have always formed the backbone of their repertoire. It is often in these sacred compositions that composers and conductors have demonstrated their true artistry and secured lasting recognition. In this respect, La Valette Band of Valletta has long been a forerun- ner. This long-held tradition of funerary marches has been sus- tained over the course of a centu- ry and half with the annual Good Friday processions and momen- tuous funeral corteges in which civic bands render a display of some of the finest music. Since 1878, La Valette has accompa- nied the Good Friday procession in Valletta (from Ta' Ġieżu), thus accumulating an enviable opus of funerary marches thanks to a long line of conductors and com- posers of high repute. A historic collaboration Aurea Passio – the Golden Passion, celebrates this musical legacy. But it also takes one step further, the legacy collaboration and historic relationship between the civic bands of the two capital cities – Valletta's La Valette and Victoria's Leone Band, which owns and runs the Aurora Op- era House. The event itself forms part of a two-year long cultural programme with which the Au- rora Opera House is marking two golden jubilees – the 50th birth- day of Aurora in 2026 and the 50th of opera in Gozo in 2027. Performing The evening will be led by principal conductor Dominic Darmanin with special guest participation from critically ac- claimed Italian conductor and composer Antonino Oddo and the Aurora-and-Leone's own Colin Attard, both of whom will be conducting La Valette band in compositions of their own. Band afficionados will be treat- ed to some memorable repertoire including Darmanin's Bidora, Crepuscolo, Tifkira lil Ġużi Vel- la and Ecce Mater Tua and the coveted Alla Memoria di Giorgio Borg Olivier by Emanuel Bugeja. Other works include Stradella's Pietà Signore, sung by soprano Rosabelle Bianchi, Albinoni's famous Adagio, Handel's Sara- bande and excerpts from Bern- stein's Ten Commandments, amongst others. The Basics Saturday 7th March Starting at 8pm. Doors open at 7:30pm. Entrance is free of charge, but booking is required. Interested attendees may re- serve a seat via www.teatru- aurora.com/event/aurea-pas- sio-2026, by replying this email, or via WhatsApp on +356 79045779.