The 10th edition of “A New Year’s Toast”, held at the Kempinski San Lawrenz on New Year’s Day, brought to an end the 2nd edition of “Yuletide Bliss”, the mini-series organised by the Gaulitanus Choir.
As had been announced the participation of the choir itself had to be dropped in view of the prevailing health situation. Instead, violinist Pierre Louis Attard and pianist Milica Lawrence (who were to feature in the cancelled “A Musical Voyage” concert a few days earlier) teamed up with the choir’s soprano soloists Patricia Buttigieg and Anna Bonello. This ensured that “A New Year’s Toast” could go on – the only fixed Gaulitanus-organised choir event which kept going regularly throughout the pandemic.
The concert presented and alternation of instrumental and vocal numbers. Violinist and pianist performed works by Weber and Viardot (with the latter probably being given its first performance ever in Malta).The pianist also played a short Poulenc Novelette.
Accompanied on the piano by Colin Attard, Patricia Buttigieg interpreted 2 Italian songs by Bellini and Donizetti respectively, whereas Anna Bonello gave a rendition of 2 French songs by Poulenc and Satie respectively. Violinist Pierre Louis Attard joined in for a rousing finale: a 3-song Neapolitan medley. The audience enthusiastically joined in, clapping the marching rhythm of the last number, which eventually was encored.
“Yuletide Bliss” was supported by the Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Ministry for Gozo.
(Photo credits: Lorne Cremona)
Meanwhile, Albert G. Storace’s full online review is:
NEW YEAR TOAST CONCERT
PATRICIA BUTTIGIEG, soprano,
ANNA BONELLO, soprano
MILICA LAWRENCE, piano
PIERRE-LOUIS ATTARD, violin
COLIN ATTARD, piano & direction
Produced by GAULITANUS CHOIR
KEMPINSKI SAN LAWRENZ, GOZO
DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE within the MINISTRY for GOZO
This was my first concert experience for this year and I hope it has been the first of many to come. Gaulitanus Choir has been marking every new year’s day with a New Year Toast concert. The concert under review here was within the series of activities dubbed Yuletide Bliss. It was to include a violin and piano recital and a choral concert with the participation of soloists within the choir’s ranks.
However the recent rise in Covid cases and other reasons resulted with part of the choir in quarantine. As Mro. Attard said, these were hard and trying times, yet he was happy to thank and welcome the audience.
This was the first time the choral concert was ditched. However this evening’s presentation was devised as a fusion of part of the violin and piano recital alternating with a number of vocal solo pieces. This worked very well much to the delight of the audience. May one add that the concert was held according to safety precautionary measures such as temperature control, wearing of masks, vaccination certificate control and social distancing.
The concert began Carl Maria von Weber’s Sonata in C Major Op. 10, n.1, from 6 sonates progressifs (1810). This was performed by Pierre-Louis Attard accompanied at the piano by Milica Lawrence. This was a balanced partnership of mutual rapport and produced results in this most charming, rare work. Tbe well-shaped initial Allegro was followed by a warm Romanze, with the work ending in a lovely Rondo amabile.
Immediately after soprano Patricia Buttigieg sang the first two vocal pieces of the concert.
This young lady is a stalwart of Gaulitanus and often sings solo. She has a clear voice, pleasant warm timbre and sings with the conviction required of the two songs she sang accompanied by Colin Attard. First was Bellini’s pure “bel canto” salon piece Ma rendi pur contento with lot of love and romance in the air. The air is different in Donizetti’s
Me voglio f’a’ ‘nna casa sung with a near feisty, impatient determination and gusto.
Back to the violin and piano next was a set of Six morceaux de concert, by Pauline Viardot (1821-1910). This Spanish-born and very famous mezzo-soprano (née García) may not have been a beauty like her sister María Malibrán (1808-36). She considered herself as the runt of the family, but carved a great name as a singer. As the Six morceaux were to prove she was also an adept hand at composition. Nothing out of this world but of great charm, colourful and stylishly elegant. In his quest to broaden his repertoire Pierre-Louis Attard found these pieces which were put together in 1867 but he thinks they were composed at different intervals.Together with Milica Lawrence, this duo brought to life pieces which varied in tempo and colour with a sparkling role for the violin as in the vigorous Bohèmienne (n.2) flanked by a warm Romance and lilting lullaby-like Berceuse. N.4, a Mazurka picked up in energy and gave way to some old world charm in La vieille chanson. The set concluded with appropriate zest and flourish with Tarentelle.
Accompanied at the piano by Colin Attard, the second singer this evening was soprano Anna Bonello, another worthy soloist from the ranks of Gaulitanus. From the 20th century French repertoire she sang Poulenc’s Les chemins de l’amour. The interpretation was a pretty faithful one charting the multifaceted paths of love: hope, remembrance, despair and joy. Anna Bonello then sang the more light-hearted song Je te veux, by Erik Satie. It is one of his best, with an appealing langour so very well-expressed in its waltz tempo.
Remaining in France with Poulenc, Milica Lawrence then performed his Novelette n.1 in C Major. The relaxing song-like music has a contrasting mid-section with more energetic verve to it returning to the initial mood. It made a very pleasant interlude coming as it did before the concluding medley of three very popular Italian songs.
The two sopranos took part, with Colin Attard at the piano and his son Pierre-Louis adding the violin’s contribution to the medley. Anna Bonello sang Enrico Caruso’s famous Vieni sul mar after which Patricia Buttigieg sang the equally famous and evocative Santa Lucia by Teodoro Cottrau. The finale was Aniello Califano and Enrico Cannio’s ‘O surdato ‘nnamuratu with both voices singing. This led to the audience into clapping in time to make a rousing finale. The latter part was encored with even more gusto!
This was like a message of hope for a better time to come. Thank you Gaulitanus, thank you sponsors. Happy New Year to all.
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