Il-Hagar Museum in Gozo said that a very hectic month lies ahead as it celebrates the 13th anniversary of its inauguration with a week of cultural, liturgical and social events to mark this important milestone.

It said that the programme also commemorates “Malta and Gozo’s foremost contemporary composer, Joseph Vella, on the 8th anniversary of his passing.” These events will take place during the week starting the 16th of February and will reach their climax during the weekend of the 20th, 21st and 22nd of February.

On Monday, 16th, the Byron Consort of Harrow School Choir of London, directed by Michael Evans, will present a vocal recital of sacred music by Palestrina, Bach, Bruckner and Vella, among others. The concert will take place at St George’s Basilica and will start at 7.30pm..

On Thursday, 19th, at 8pm, Francis Camilleri will give a piano recital at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia, located at the back of St George’s Basilica. Camilleri will perform Schubert’s Sonata in G major D. 894, Vella’s Sonatina op. 30, and Beethoven’s Sonata in F minor No. 23, op. 57 (Appassionata).

On Friday, 20th, events will shift to Il-Hagar Museum where, at 7.30pm, Dr Alexander Vella Gregory will deliver the 8th Joseph Vella Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Una Consuetudine Anticha’: Sacred Music in Dusina’s Report of 1575. The lecture will be followed by the inauguration of a documentary exhibition on the piano concertos of Joseph Vella.

The following day, Saturday, 21st at 11am, the museum will host a hands-on workshop for children and students with Gozitan artist Clara Azzopardi and her DIJA exhibition curator, Sera Galea. In the evening, at 8pm, Il-Hagar Museum, in collaboration with the Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s Basilica, will present a recital of art songs by Joseph Vella and Alex Vella Gregory.

The performers will be Miriam Cauchi (soprano), Simon Abdilla Joslin (violoncello), and Maria Frendo and Alex Vella Gregory (pianoforte). This concert will take place at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia.

On Sunday, 22nd at 11am, at St George’s Basilica, the Museum said, everyone will gather to “give thanks to Almighty God for the experience Il-ha?ar Museum offers to the thousands of visitors it welcomes each year. We will pray for the museum’s benefactors, both those who have passed away and those who are still with us, to whom we all owe so much.”

Solemn Mass will be celebrated by the Museum’s Founder and Curator, Mgr Dr Joseph Farrugia. St George’s Basilica’s Laudate Pueri Choir will perform Joseph Vella’s Missa Brevis.

Following the celebration of Holy Mass, at 12.30pm, festivities will continue with a four-course anniversary celebratory luncheon at Ta’ Frenc Restaurant. For logistical purposes, reservations for this event will be accepted until Friday, the 20th of February.

The museum said that all the above events, except for the anniversary luncheon, are free of charge. For seat reservations or any queries, please contact: events@heartofgozo.org.mt / +356 7956 1540.

Permalink: Two important anniversaries in February at Il-Hagar Museum