The 2nd edition of “Yuletide Bliss” presented by the Gaulitanus Choir opened on Boxing Day at St Francis Church, Victoria, which provided a wonderful setting to the concert entitled “Festive Strings”. The concert featured the Gaulitanus String Orchestra conducted by the mini-series’s artistic director Colin Attard and led by Reggie Clews (in the unavoidable absence of Marcelline Agius).
Works from the standard string orchestra repertoire by Warlock, Sibelius and Bartok altered with some Christmassy works by Kowalewski and Colin Attard. The latter’s was “A Christmas Fantasia” for solo violin and strings interpeted by violinist Pierre Louis Attard (again in replacement of Marcelline Agius). A highly acclaimed rousing encore – an arrangement of the “Carol of the Bells” – was afforded to acknowledge the great reception of the audience present. This included Mr Joseph Buttigieg, who represented the Hon. Minister for Gozo – whose Ministry’s Cultural Heritage Directorate was supporting the series -, the Hon. Dr Joseph Ellis, Speaker Emeritus Anton Tabone and Fr Etienne Gilson OFM (deputising for the indisposed Fr Superior Joseph Xerri).
(Photo credits: Lorne Cremona)
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