
Below is a full translation of a report by J. Paoli describing the Gaulitanus Choirs concert in Cervioni, Corsica, on Thursday the 8th of November. The article was published, together with a photograph of the choir, in the newspaper Corse-Matin on Saturday 10th November.
The Maltese choir at Cervioni, bellisimo!
A taste of beauty. No wonder Cervioni’s public anxiously awaited for the concert to start.
The richness of the concert offered by the Maltese choir Gaulitanus under the direction of Colin Attard as part of the Rencontres Musicales de Mediterranee was simply a live expression of beauty. Esthetic beauty of a mixed choir fit to qualify as ‘very classy’.
The males wore black suits and butterflies whilst the females in long gowns enhanced by a satin lurex scarf and a strand of white pearl; all looked very elegant.
An elegance in harmony with the voices. An ensemble in perfect accord with the piano-playing of Stephen Attard, the director’s brother.
The concert consisted of three grand parts, based on the festival’s philosphy of promoting exchanges of music and poetry and which is highly praised by all Corsicans.
The first part consisted of original works by the Gaulitanus Choir in the Maltese language. Verdi followed with compositions which have crossed the borders of the genre to become popular culture. Finally, a medley of Neapolitan songs which enthused all.
In Cervioni the Gaulitanus Choir showed vocal sensibility with flowing diction and a joyful interpretation; all demonstrating the choir’s artistry. The listeners of the local radio Voce Nustrale had the opportunity to listen and appreciate since the concert was transmitted live.
As Jean-Marie Prescelti, the priest, affirmed, “God also conceals himself in what is beautiful”, and these Maltese voices had in effect something heavenly.….they opened the doors onto a garden where harmonies become colours, sounds become images….music a parody of life, the singers messengers of hope….and the soprano Rita Dimech, a fairy among the angels.”

