The Teatru tal-Opra Aurora presented The Leone Grand Christmas Show 2010 on Saturday, the 18th of December, featuring the Leone Band of Victoria and various other artistes.

The two-hour musical extravaganza by the band, the children’s and youths’ choir, dancers, actors and singers brought out the theme of the Christmas colours. The Leone Band performed White Christmas, And The Mountains Echoed Gloria, Recession Depression Blues, Santa at the Symphony, O Come O Come Emanuel, Of Kings and Christmas, Let Heaven and Nature Sing and another arrangement of White Christmas that brought the event to a thematic grand finale. This concert followed a string of other major appearances for the Leone Band this year, 3 performances of Leone Goes Pop, in Victoria, Marsalforn and the Presidential Palace, open air concerts in Gharb, Zebbug, Ghajnsielem, Xaghra and Victoria, a concert of sacred music at the Cathedral Church and a symphonic concert at the Aurora Theatre in November.

Around 50 youths and children from all over Gozo, formed part of the Aurora Junior Choir, accompanied by Joseph Caruana on the piano. Francesca and Gabrielle Sciberras, Michaela Bajada, Corinne Borg, Daniella Debrincat, Joanne Vella, Kristina Marie Curmi and Christine Scicluna were the child soloists, while Fabian Galea, Annabelle Zammit and Stephanie Portelli sang as soloists in other numbers. The Leone Grand Christmas Show also saw the participation of ballet students from the Gozo School of Drama, choreographed by Sarah Grima and other contemporary dancers choreographed by Deborah Agius, who, assisted by the Victoria Scouts Group, led an acrobatic choreography on the Aurora stage.

The rest of the variety show, which saw record attendances, included humour and upbeat moments, such as when Befana’s (Larissa Attard) abseiled into the theatre, as well as Patricia Prescott and Lola Llabròs literature reading. Production, direction and presentation were by Matthew Sultana.

In a festival-orchestra set up, the Leone Band served as a backdrop, while the rest of the stage was converted into a white winter wonderland to enhance the Christmas colours presented in the most spectacular manner.

With the help of the Victoria Local Council, The Leone Grand Christmas Show 2010, raised €1000 in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The donation was presented by club president, Dr Michael Caruana, to the President of Malta, Dr George Abela, during the charity telethon L-Istrina from Gozo.

This was the second philanthropic event by the Leone band this year, as last July’s performance of Leone Goes Pop in Marsalforn raised another €1500 in aid of Puttinu Cares foundation.

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