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Yesterday, Tuesday, 24th June, 2008 the Gaulitanus Choir again took part – as it has done since 1997 – in the Mro Carmelo Pace’s Concert organised every two years by the Mdina Cathedral Museum Committee. This year’s concert returned to the Metropolitan Cathedral at Mdina, after being held at the Manoel Theatre in 2006 to commemorate Mro. Pace’s birth centenary. Mro Pace (1906 – 1993) was a prolific 20th century Maltese composer, who has composed around 500 works covering the whole spectrum of musical genre. In 1989 he set up a Foundation for the promotion of his music, under the care of the Cathedral Museum and donated all his music to this same Cathedral Museum.
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Since this concert was held within the Mdina Cathedral, the choice of repertoire was obviously restricted to works with a religious tint. This concert opened up with the music of the one-act, six scenes, biblical ballet, "Ruth" based on the figure from the Old Testament which Mro. Pace composed in 1979. Mro Pace wrote the score for a chamber orchestra and used a rather traditional idiom with abundant touches of Middle Eastern / Mediterranean flavour. It was premiered in 1980 on Xandir Malta by the Manoel Theatre Orchestra directed by Joseph Sammut. Since then only one movement was played during Mro. Pace’s concert at the Mdina Cathedral in 2003. Yesterday it was the first time that it was performed in its entirety since 1980.
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The second work on the programme was completely contrasting to the first work presented. "It-Triq" is a cantata for soprano and chamber orchestra. Set to a poem penned by George Zammit, this work uses a comtemporary idiom with the chamber orchestra subtly supporting the voice in illustrating a person’s resolution to follow the road leading to the little child of Betlehem notwithstanding the multiple difficulties encountered with in everyday’s life. Composed in 1974, this work was premiered in 1997 at Mdina Cathedral and was interpreted and directed by soprano Rita Dimech and Colin Attard respectively. Yesterday’s performance was It-Triq’s second ever performance and was again interpreted by Gozitan soprano Dimech, who appeared for the fifth time in a Pace concert.
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The third work on the programme, "Meditazione" is a very early work by Pace dating back to 192. It is composed in a rather simple reflective religious mood and set in a purely romantic style. It was premiered in 1948 at the Catholic Action’s auditorium under the composer’s direction. Several arrangements of it are extant. The version that was performed during this concert was that for string orchestra (edited by Colin Attard) which was last performed in 1999 also at the Mdina Cathedral.
This concert ended in a grand style with the Choir performing Pace’s Easter Cantata "The Eternal Triumph" that Mro. Pace compsed in 1966.
This cantata is set to a text compiled by the composer himself from the Bible and other liturgical sources, mainly based on some episodes of and reflections on Christ’s resurrection from death. This cantata was premiered in 1966 at the Catholic Institute by the Jesus of Nazareth Choir and Orchestra directed by Fr. Salv Galea. It is arguably the most accessible of Pace’s grand choral works. Scored for soloists, choir and full orchestra it somehow compromises between a romantic and 20th century idiom resulting in a style which is easily communicable to the audience and at the same time fresh and full of poignancy. The soloists that took part are also members of the choir, namely soprano Rita Dimech (Mary Magdalene), tenor Joseph Calleja (Jesus), baritone Joseph Buttigieg (St. Paul), soprano Margaret Plant (1st Angel) and alto Stephanie Buttigieg (2nd Angel) with Rob Ricards as the narrator.
This piece was very well received by the very numerous audience (the cathedral was full) and an encore of the last part of the cantata was again performed.
The Gaulitanus Choir Orchestra was led by Tatjana Chircop. The conductor was Gozitan Colin Attard, who is very closely associated with the Pace concerts having directed all such concerts since 1997.
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