It is true that the organisers of ‘Carols by Candlelight’ give a new image to every edition of this Christmas event which has now found its place in the Maltese cultural calendar. But the query remains there…how come in April, in Easter time, a message was received asking for information about ‘Carols by Candlelight 2009.’ What makes people so much interested and eager to get the tickets?

Schola Cantorum Jubilate, the Gozitan choir, never looks back and continues its venture in the musical scene. This year, apart from every Sunday 11am mass at the Basilica of Xaghra, from where the majority of choristers hail, the choir was requested for private services like weddings, funerals and baptisms. We have seen the choir participating in the Qala International Celebration and then in May, performing in a concert, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in aid of the Abruzzo earthquake victims. However, this year’s highlight remains the trip to Austria in September. It was a dream holiday which came into reality. Members can never forget the enchanting experiences in Linz, Salzburg, Vienna, Göttweig and Melk. Their performances at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, at the Old Cathedral of Linz, at Hellbrunn, at Melk and Göttweig Abbeys and at Peterskirche left an imprint in their hearts and in those who attended for the liturgy of mass or else for the concerts.

Now, the choir’s next appointment is the seventh edition of ‘Carols by Candlelight.’ Due to the large and ever increasing demand, the organisers are holding two soirées with the aim to accommodate all those who attend each year and those who remained disappointed for not making it on time to get the tickets. The dates are Friday, the 18th and Saturday, the 19th of December at St. Augustine’s Monastery in Victoria at 7.30pm.

This is the fifth time that the ‘Carols by Candlelight’ are held in this convent. In the beginning the idea was that of holding the event in different venues but according to the esteemed audience, the Convent is ideal for such event. It offers the facility of holding the concert in the church, the exhibition in the foyer and the meal in its fascinating cloister. However it can be reached easily, parking is available in the neighborhood, its gardens give pure air to the lungs, the place is not commonly used and above all, it has a magical spell for Christmas. Moreover, a lot of the Maltese residents who cross over for the occasion have the opportunity to spend the night in the same convent. There is a section with ensuite rooms which are frequently used for private retreats…another credit for choosing such a venue!

The first part of the evening consists of a Christmas concert in the church. The setting is changed from year to year, always with the idea of candles as the title itself implies. The repertoire chosen for this year includes traditional, classical and even new compositions. The pieces to be performed are mainly by Gruber, Adams, Handel, Vivalid, Leontovych Yon, Shawn, Rutter and Portelli. There will be choral pieces accompanied by the Jubilate Chamber Orchestra and solo pieces by Sorprano Marouska Attard, Bass Albert Buttigieg, organist Joseph Camilleri and saxophonist Philip Attard. The Ta’ Frenc chefs are in charge of the meal, in preparing fresh food always with a touch of mystery in the taste which blends well with the atmosphere created in the cloister for the occasion.

On entering the cloister, the guests will have the time to admire some religious Christmas articles created by Rev. Fr. Charles Vella, a Gozitan priest with artistic talents.

All the evening proceeds are forwarded to Guzeppa Debono Home which caters for single mothers and organizes pro-life activities. The cave of Bethlehem hosted the poor Savior child and this home in Ghajnsielem tries hard to deliver the same massage in today’s hectic and at time selfish life. Life, from the very beginning should be protected…it is a gift, a miracle!

It is advisable that patrons get their tickets the earliest the possible because of the limitation in space.

Tickets for the concert and dinner are available from D’Amato Records Shop in Valletta and Bargate Bookshop in Victoria. For further queries regarding the event or lodging bookings at the Convent call on 79450950 or send an email on info@scjchoir.com .

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