The sixth edition of ‘Gaulitana: A Festival of Music’ will get underway next month. The Festival is organised by the Gaulitanus Choir, a non-affiliated Gozitan choir which was formed in 1990.

It will feature a series of concerts performed by a mixture of both international and local artists, ensembles and choirs, artistically directed by the choir’s founder-director, Colin Attard..

This Eastertime Festival will open and close with performances by the Gaulitanus Choir itself.

The opening concert is a sacred one (appropriately scheduled in Lent), during which the choir and its soloists will present a number of sacred works, which, to give homogeinity to the programme are all in English. Pride of place is given to Benjamin Harlan’s cantata ‘Easter Trilogy’ which will be premiered in the Maltese islands.

The finale concert is in complete contrast, as the choir will present semi-acted versions of two popular musical shows, Richard Rodgers’ ‘The King and I’ and Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver!’ (The latter specifically chosen to celebrate Dickens’ bicentary). This finale, in which the choir will also be joined by guest foreign soloists, will be produced by choir member Terry Shaw.

Various recitals will be held throughout the Festival, featuring choirs, solo singers, string and brass chamber ensembles and a number of pianists. The events are multifarious and range from the typical concert-fare to a quasi-reflective spiritual event during Holy Week and to an open-air busking session.

Typically, the festival not only presents established performers but also gives some space to up-and-coming talent. Moerover the festival is out-reaching and is held in various localities throughout Gozo.

The organisers said that “besides the enhancement of Gozo’s cultural milieu and its promotion on an international scale, the Festival aims to boost Gozo’s touristic appeal, both domestice and abroad, during a period which is rather lean and to impart the educational and social aspects of the arts to the whole spectrum of the population including children. It is the Gaulitanus Choir’s intention that this festival keeps gradually developing, always aiming for higher standards.”

It is specifically because of this that the choir said it is gaining the backing of Government agencies, local councils, hotels and corporate bodies which help it keep going on with its initiative.

This edition of the festival is being supported by the Ministry for Gozo, the Ministry for Justice, Dialogue and the Family, the Gozo Council for Culture & Arts, the Victoria, Xaghra and Xewkija Local Councils, Michael Grech Financial Investment Services, the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz and the JDB Digital Printing.

The Festival is taking place between the 11th of March and the 30th of April.

For further information please call on 21560200, 9925 8592 and 9920 9779, alternatively you can email on info@gaulinaus.com.

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