On Monday 27th December 2010, the second day in the Christmas octave and Liturgical feast of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, the Xaghra Local Council organised the twelfth edition of the Christmas Concert entitled ‘Puer Natus Est.’
This year, the choir which was invited to perform during this event was the Voci Angeliche Choir of Xaghra. Voci Angeliche was formed in June 1984 during the ceremony of the First Holy Communion and it sings during the main liturgical celebrations at the Basilica of Maria Bambina in Xaghra. Recently, the choir was invited to sing during the Pontifical Solemn Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London. The Choir was invited for the tenth anniversary of Malta Day in the United Kingdom and for the annual feast of Our Lady of Victories. Nowadays, the choir is made up of forty feminine members and with dedication and patience, it is still being directed by Grace Vella. The choir’s aim is to praise the Almighty, help individuals to express themselves through music and to make others appreciate music. During this concert, there was also musical accompaniment on the majestic organ of the Basilica and a small orchestra under the baton of Mro. Dr. John Galea. The compère of the evening was Mr. Keith Demicoli.
This year’s concert was dedicated to H.L. Bishop Emeritus Nicholas J. Cauchi and Professor Guido Demarco (President Emeritus) who passed to eternal life earlier during this ending year. The concert was divided in two parts – the first one dedicated to major works and the second one was centered around popular Christmas carols. The major works consisted of the ‘Missa in honorem Sancti Josephi Calasantii’ composed by Oreste Ravanello, ‘Tantum Ergo’ by Camille Saint-Saens and ‘O Salutaris Hostia’ by Franz Listz. All these three pieces featured the Choir and the organ. The latter two are Eucharistic hymns which definitely helped us to continue preparing spiritually for the three days of Solemn Adoration which are going to be held at the Xaghra Basilica between Thursday, the 30th of December 2010 and Saturday, the 1st ofJanuary 2011.
Among the carols which were sung during the second part of the concert, one may mention ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Il est né le Divin enfant’ (French traditional carol), ‘Alma Redemptoris Mater’ (a Marian antiphon sung by the Church during the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas), ‘Ninni la tibkix izjed’ (a Maltese traditional lullaby), ‘Jum tas-Sliem’ (composed by the late Mro. Nazzareno Refalo which served for several years as Maestro di Cappella of the Xaghra Basilica), ‘Stille Nacht’, ‘White Christmas’, ‘Holy Night,’ ‘Do You Hear what I Hear?’ and ‘Adeste Fideles.’
During this concert, there were also two speeches given by Xaghra Mayor, Mr. Joseph Cordina and the Xaghra Parish Archpriest, Reverend Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Apostolic Protonotary.
The Xaghra Local Council said it would like to thank those individuals and local businesses who gave financial aid for this concert and would like to extend their greetings for a Happy New Year full of prosperity, peace and happiness to all Xaghra residents!