On Friday 9th July, the Gaulitanus Choir participated in an open-air concert, part of the Gran Castello Summer Nights organized by the Gozo Cultural Office, held on the Granaries at the Cittadella.

The wonderful ambience was complemented by the charming and very flowing music from some of the best-known musical shows. Indeed, the programme was reserved to American musicals with three selections (arranged by the choir’s director Colin Attard) from Leonard Bernstein’ s West Side Story, Jerome Kern’s Show Boat and Richard Rodgers’s Oklahoma!.

The two principal soloists were Englishman Terry Shaw and Gozitan-American Pamela Agius, who had several solos in all three selections. Other soloists were Darren Vella, Fabian Galea, Annabelle Zammit, Josianne Callus, Marthese Borg and Maria Grech Magro. The choir, at times featuring just the female sections, complemented the fare. Stephen Attard accompanied on the piano with Colin Attard directing and introducing the musical numbers.

The performance was highly animated with all adding movement and oomph to the singing. At the end of the official programme, three encores were given: Pamela Agius sang Victor Herbert’s Art is calling for me from The Enchantress, Terry Shaw interpreted Cole Porter’s So in Love from Kiss Me Kate and the choir rounded up with Omm-pah-pah from Lionel Bart’s Oliver.

Besides the choir, the concert will prominently feature its own tenor Terry Shaw and guest Gozitan-American soprano Pamela Agius as well as some other soloists from within the choir ranks. As usual Stephen Attard will accompany on the keyboard with Colin Attard conducting.

This open-air concert will indeed be a sequel to a similar concert held last summer which was extremely well-patronized and thoroughly enjoyable.

Entrance for the concert is free.

The Aquavarel Choir of Russia which performed a sacred concert at Maria Bambina Basilica in Xaghra Gozo on June 15th, 2010 at 18.30hrs.

Gozo’s Gaulitanus Choir in collaboration with the Russian Centre for Science and Culture will be presenting the Russian choir Aquavarel in a concert of sacred music.

This will be held next Tuesday, 15th June at 6.30 pm at the Maria Bambina Basilica, Xaghra. Entrance is free.

The 45-strong kids choir from Siberia is currently touring Malta.

The Gaulitanus Choir participated during the official event commerating Victoria Day organized by the Victoria Local Council. The event was held at Independence Square on Thursday 10th June.

Besides the choir, the Sassofoni Saxophone Quartet and the Chorus Urbanus participated. A few poems were also read by Joe Camilleri and Carmel Cachia. The Victoria Scout Group was awarded the Gieh il-Belt Victoria by Mayor, Dr. Samuel Azzopardi.

The Gaulitanus Choir opened the evening with Joseph Vella’s Innu lil Ghawdex. This was the first ever interpretation of the hymn in 4 voices. The choir then interpreted a choral medley from Schonberg’s Les Miserables arranged by Ed Lojeski, and The Best of Musical Films, another choral medley compiled by Colin Attard. Accompanied by Stephen Attard, the choir was directed as usual by Colin Attard.

The evening was compered by Paul Sultana (himself a Gaulitanus member) and Ylenia Caruana.

Music brings people together… on Gozo

Etelka Volter, Victoria

The Chamber Saxophone Quartet

Living in Gozo from time to time for eight months has made me aware of the high number of different cultural events which are organised on this small island. At Christmastime and Eastertime several good concerts are produced, nearly every day.

Since I have been on the island, I have witnessed that Gozo has very good choirs and generally music plays an important role in the everyday life of Gozitan people. But such a large-scale series of concerts as Gaulitana: A Festival of Music surpassed all that I could imagine.

Colin Attard is the heart and soul of this festival. As his Gaulitanus Choir celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, the festival organised by the choir has arrived in its fourth edition. Anyone who ever tried to organise some cultural event knows what an effort it needs to organise a concert. So imagine not one, but 11 concerts in a month! Notwithstanding the limited resources, the programme was definitely very varied. We could enjoy the choir itself, its soloists, instrumental solos, duo and quartets and vocal recitals. The performers were not only important overseas artistes but also - and this is noteworthy - young and gifted musicians from Gozo and Malta who were given the opportunity to show their talents.

Of course unforeseen circumstances can always crop up, as was the case this time too. Indeed one of the foreign artistes due to give a vocal recital was taken ill. In such circumstances the concert would usually be cancelled. But not here! Literally in a few hours (and I can’t imagine how!) an alternative concert, itself of a good standard, was organised.

I also liked the different venues used: churches, halls and an open-air alley in various localities in Gozo (except for one in Malta). But what really amazed me was the fact that, in most cases, the venues were full of people, sometimes even over packed. In fact music still brings people together!

I hope that such people devoted to music will be given the support of the musical public in the future too. Thank you for the unforgettable experience!

The choir, directed by Mro. Colin Attard and accompanied by Stephen Attard, will perform a lively repertoire fitting for the occasion.

The Gaulitanus Choir was once again invited to participate in the Leljet Lapsi: Notte Gozitana events held in Victoria on Saturday, 15th May.

The choir took part in a lunchtime concert held at the Cathedral Church which also featured the Chorus Urbanus. The choir sang sacred works by Mendelssohn, Dufford, Joncas, a Swedish traditional, Bush and Caruana. The choir’s soloists were Annabelle Zammit, Darren Vella, Josianne Callus, Charlene Borg and Fabian Galea. Stephen Attard accompanied on the keyboard with Colin Attard concducting.

The choir, directed and accompanied by Mro. Colin Attard, performed Segattini’s Missa Sanctae Johannes Baptistae, Mozart’s Ave Verum, Frisina’s Anima Christi, Caruana’s Fil-Hlewwa ta’ Mejju and the popular hymn of Our Lay of Pompei. The soloists were sopranos Maria Grech Magro and Annabelle Zammit and bass Darren Vella.