The Gaulitanus Choir’s Vienna concert tour (December 9-14, 2022), its 20th venture abroad, was a memorable one – indeed an unqualified success.
Truly, resuming one’s programme of international events after a forced absence of 3 years in the world capital of music was perhaps somewhat risky. Yet, led by its musical director Colin Attard, the choir rose to the occasion, performing and being acclaimed in some fantastic venues in the very heart of Vienna, always to very sizeable audiences.
This success was also a result of the close collaboration with Vienna’s TU Orchestra as well as the full co-operation of Vienna’s Persephone Choir. Both the TU Orchestra and the Persephone Choir not only co-ordinated the Gaulitanus’s full programme of artistic events but actually also participated in most of them.
Indeed, the Gaulitanus Choir was involved in 4 different artistic engagements in this grand city of culture. It opened with a bang with the choir presenting a lunchtime concert at Vienna’s monumental St Stephen’s Cathedral. Very significantly, and very much in line with the choir’s role as one of the foremost promoters of Maltese music abroad, the whole repertoire consisted of Maltese music – which was very much appreciated.
Two Advent concerts featuring the Gaulitanus, the Persephone Choir and the TU Orchestra followed – who jointly performed a most varied repertoire. The first was at St Peter’s Church, the second most important church in Vienna centre and a most important concert venue, and the other at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Church, the Rudolfsheim Catholic church in Vienna 15th district. During both these concerts, conducted by the Persephone’s musical director David Salazar and the Gaulitanus’s Colin Attard, choir member Pierre Louis Attard was also the guest solo violinist with the TU Orchestra during an orchestral slot. Both concerts were very favourably received, with the Malta-related works scoring an enthusiastic response.
The Gaulitanus’s final commitment was at the historic campus of Vienna’s Technical University, specifically at the very particularly-designed Kuppersaal. Indeed, the choir was the special guest during the TU Orchestra’s grand symphonic concert, opening the proceedings with a number of Maltese ‘a cappella’ compositions in the Maltese language. Again, these were fervently received.
Maybe, the Gaulitanus Choir’s Vienna concert tour can be perfectly reflected in two comments by two personalities well-abreast of Vienna’s artistic scene. Viennese artist Dorothea von Huene complimented the choir with a very significant “Well done for your performance, but especially for being accepted to perform and for being favourably received in the very centre of Vienna– which cannot be taken as for granted in a city so much-used to very high-standard culture”. Similarly, international soprano Madina Karbeli felt it opportune to place a very noteworthy post on her facebook page, namely that “I had an honour to attend the last concert of the Gaulitanus Choir in Vienna – performing Maltese music a cappella, arranged by Maestro Colin Attard. It was an amazing experience! very special harmony, sound and a beautiful, friendly atmosphere created by the choir and Maestro Attard, who explained with joy and humour the meaning of each piece. Thank you very much for this beautiful evening! and congratulations to … the members of the choir – compliments for an excellent performance! Bravi!!!”
Undoubtedly, this Gaulitanus Choir’s Vienna concert tour was another golden chapter in its string of international ventures and a success for Gozitan and Maltese culture, auguring well for further international engagements.
The concert tour was supported by the Art Council Malta’s International Cultural Exchanges Scheme.
Meanwhile, more detailed day-by-day reports of the concert tour are being posted separately.
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