Schola Cantorum Jubilate, in collaboration with the Birkirkara Parish Church of St. Mary organised a concert with the aim of raising funds for the restoration of the church’s unique architecture.
The repertoire presented included pieces from the Lenten and Easter period and from different eras ranging from the renaissance, romantic, baroque and even contemporary. The piece which opened the concert was from Bartolucci’s compositions – ‘Crucem Tuam’. Another piece by Bartolucci was performed, a masterpiece one may say that is ‘Crux Fidelis’ written for six voices and a treble solo. The treble part was interpreted superbly by Silvianne Cini. The other pieces performed were ‘If ye love me’ (Tallis), ‘Stabat Mater’ (Kodaly), ‘Ubi Caritas’ (Gjeilo), ‘In Paradisium’ (Fauré) and ‘Tradiderunt Me’. The latter is from Antonio Nani’s ‘Responsario per giovedi Santo’. It was interpreted by Bass Albert Buttigieg who was accompanied on the organ by Joseph Camilleri and violinist Sarah Spiteri.
The violinist interpreted also the ‘Meditation’ from Thais by Massenet and the other solo was interpreted by Soprano Marouska Attard. She performed Mozart’s ’Laudate Dominum’. The Easter pieces were ‘Terra Tremuit’ (Byrd) and ‘Haec Dies’ (Zelenka).
The church was jam-packed with an audience that appreciated the event and eagerly joined in chorus when asked to, precisely during the interpretation of Bach’s Chorale – ‘O Ras ta’ Kristu Imbierka’ which translation was penned by Prof. Emanuel Mifsud.
The evening included also some reflections on the Jubilee Year of Mercy and God’s infinite love. The Parish Priest Fr. Reuben Deguara address the audience and another message was delivered by Mgr. Paul Cremona, Archbishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Malta. This concert was sponsored by BOV
