Blog
As a well seasoned concert attendee, yesterday’s experience was one of those instances where quality and beauty could be sensed from the moment that one entered the venue. It is my usual fixation with punctuality that allowed me to find myself half an hour early before the concert started. It is here that this wonderful experience begun. When I entered the Għarb Basilica, the well known soprano Marouska Attard was warming up with the well established Corida String Quartet and it is from the very first few nuances of music that one could easily notice that it was going to be a concert of impeccable standard.
As a well seasoned concert attendee, yesterday’s experience was one of those instances where quality and beauty could be sensed from the moment that one entered the venue. It is my usual fixation with punctuality that allowed me to find myself half an hour early before the concert started. It is here that this wonderful experience begun. When I entered the Għarb Basilica, the well known soprano Marouska Attard was warming up with the well established Corida String Quartet and it is from the very first few nuances of music that one could easily notice that it was going to be a concert of impeccable standard.
Mysterium Visitatione is a concert of Sacred Classical Music which will feature Soprano Marouska Attard and the Cordia String Quartet. This concert is being organised by the Għarb Parish Church in collaboration with the Għarb Local Council.
The repertoire includes various pieces by Mozart, Bach, Handel, Caccini, Vivaldi, Bernstein and Portelli. This concert is being held as part of the festivities held in occasion of the Għarb village feast and on completion of the restoration of two old paintings. These paintings by Vittorio Micallef date back to the 1600 and represent the Visitation and St. Luke. Both paintings were restored by Mr. Godwin Cutajar.
In the afternoon, at 5pm, the church bells of the Basilica of Xagħra rang happily announcing the Nuptial Mass of Joline Refalo and Charles Xuereb. This young couple decided to utter their vows in front of the Minister of God. Floral arrangements decorated the altar and showed the festivity this sacrament brings around.
‘Lapsi’ – a Maltese word which mean the Ascension of Jesus, got synonymous with the Notte Gozitana due to the fact that it is organised on the eve of ‘Lapsi’. This special evening or better a weekend of activities is organised annually by the Ministry for Gozo to exhibit local products and productions. The main attractions remain always the concerts and art exhibitions.
Marouska Attard, Director of Schola Cantorum Jubilate held a vocal recial at the Sacred Heart Seminary Chapel in Victoria. The chapel is usually not open for the public except on rare occasions but for this evening it hosted the soprano, pianist and a good number of attendees. The Rector invited also those present to go around the place which gives formation to young seminarians who once completed their tertiary course will become priests.
Schola Cantorum Jubilate animated the 11.15am mass at Ta' Pinu National Shrine. It was officiated by H. E Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo. Today happens to be Mothers' Day and on thinking of all mothers around the world, one should not forget the mothers-to-be.