The programme of celebrations was launched today for the 150th anniversary of the Leone Philharmonic Society of Victoria, the first band on Gozo.

The celebrations will get underway on April the 26th with an open weekend at the Society’s Headquarters in Republic Street Victoria and will conclude in November, with the main event on the 12th of October, when the three-act opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi will be performed at the Aurora Theatre in Victoria under the patronage of His Excellency the President of Malta, Dr George Abela.

A joint press conference was held today at the Auberge d’Italie in Valletta, with the Leone Philharmonic Society Committee and the Minister of Tourism, George Vella, The Minister for Gozo, Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary for Culture and Local Government, Jose Herrera, where they confirmed the sustained support and commitment by the Government for the dissemination of culture to suit all tastes, classic, contemporary and popular.

The Minister of Tourism paid tribute to the Leone Philharmonic Society’s 150 years of contribution to the field of music as well as the tourism sector, in particular in its help to reduce the problem for Gozo of tourism attractions during the quieter months. He said that bands and festivals have an important role not only in our country but also as a tourist attraction.

The Minister said that in 2012 figures showed that Gozo experienced an increase in foreign tourism while a slight decline was recorded in domestic tourism, which may be due to several factors and the Minister said that action was needed to ensure that this downward trend in domestic tourism does not increase.

Figures quoted by the Minister showed how, during 2012 three quarters of a million daytrippers visited Gozo, 80,000 tourists chose Gozo as their main destination, 34,000 chose it as a two-centre holiday, while 8,000 tourists only spent one night in the island, with most in the summer months.

The Minister for Gozo, Anton Refalo said that in recent days talks had taken place with the Society where a list of priorities were drawn up to be made for Gozo, He said that the Ministry will be working with both Societies in Victoria to explore the possibility of holding Conferences.

Parliamentary Secretary for Culture and Local Government Jose Herrera said that the style adopted by the Leone Philharmonic Society of leaving the parochial traditions can serve as a model for other band clubs. He said that culture should serve to spur more tourism, not least in Gozo.

The press conference was also addressed by the President of the Society Dr Michael Caruana, who explained that the Society was synonymous with the history of Malta and how it had transformed itself by among others its national contribution in the field of opera.

Mro Colin Attard said that not only will the opera Falstaff be presented for the first time in Gozo, but it will also be just two days before the hundreth anniversary of the birth of composer Giuseppe Verdi. He said that this year the main role in the opera Falstaff will be performed by the Italian tenor Paola Gavanelli.

Conlcuding the conference, the Minister of Tourism, the Gozo Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Culture and Local Government were presented with a memento of the occasion by the Leone Philharmonic Society President Dr. Michael Caruana.

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