His Excellency Dr. George Abela, President of Malta Republic, invited Schola Cantorum Jubilate for a private concert at San Anton Palace. The soirée started at 6pm with the official opening of an exhibition entitled: ‘Il-Passjoni skont il-Muzew Nazzjonali tal-Arti’. Following this opening, His Excellency the President and distinguished guests, amongst whom Nuncio Apostolic Mgr. Tommaso Caputo, Ambassador Jim Hennessy and Acting President Mr. Anton Tabone reached St. George’s Chapel for a Sacred Concert. The choir, under the direction of Marouska Attard interpreted eight Lenten pieces in SATB and a cappella. The pieces were: ‘O Bone Jesu’ (Palestrina), ‘Sicut Cervus’ (Palestrina), ‘If ye love me’ (Tallis), ‘O Salutaris Hosita’ (Bartolucci), ‘Crucem Tuam (Corale)’ (Bartolucci), ‘O Sacrum Convivium’ (Bartolucci), ‘Crux Fidelis’ (Portelli) and finally ‘O Ras ta’ Kristu Imbierka’ (Bach/Hassler). Chorister Dianne Angie Portelli Galea compered the soirée. Before proceeding for the reception, held at the Palace Halls, Choir Leader Stefan Attard presented the choir’s recordings to H. E. Dr. Abela. At the very end, the President acknowledged the choir’s performance and shared few words with the audience, saying how many talents exist on our islands. He gave also a gift to the choir’s director – a book ‘At the President’s Palace’. Surely this was a remarkable day for all choristers and another step stone in the choir’s history.
