The celebrations in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the conferral of the City Status to Rabat, the ancient town of Gozo, will draw to a significant close this June, with a number of activities organised by the Victoria Local Council on the occasion of Jum il-Belt Victoria, which falls on the 10th of June.

It was on this very day, in 1887, that a Government Notice announced that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had been graciously pleased to consent to the town of Rabat being officially declared a City and its name changed into Victoria, as a lasting remembrance of the fiftieth anniversary of her accession to the throne of the British Empire.

In 2012, the Victoria Local Coucil was involved in various socio-cultural events to mark this anniversary in the best way, in particular the launching of a lavish publication about the city of Victoria, authored by historian Mgr Dr Joseph Bezzina, together with many lively photos by Daniel Cilia.

The last few anniversary celebrations will be held between the 2nd and 15th of June 2013.

To begin with, the President of the Republic, Dr George Abela, is paying an official visit to the city of Victoria this coming Sunday, the 2nd of June.

On Thursday, the 6th of June, at 7.45pm, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be presenting a grand concert of Spectacular Symphonic Classics, on Independence Square, in front of the historic Banca Giuratale, which is nowadays the official seat of the Victoria Local Council.

Just two days after, on Saturday, the 8th of June, at 8.00pm, one of the renowned philharmonic bands of Victoria, namely, the La Stella Band, will stage the first edition of ‘RockAstra,’ a concert of rock music with the participation of top local singers, under the baton of Mro Sigmund Mifsud, who has just been appointed as guest conductor of the Band.

On Monday, the 10th of June, Victoria Day, a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at St Augustine’s Church, at 6.30pm. Afterwards, the annual ceremony of the conferral of ‘Gieh il-Belt Victoria’ to a number of eminent citizens will be held at the National Library in Vajringa Street, starting at 7.30pm.

On Wednesday, the 12th of June the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will join in a second time for the inauguartion concert of the 16th edition of the Victoria International Arts Festival, a full five-week run of uninterrupted cultural activities. This concert, which will be under the distinguished direction of Prof. Joseph Vella, the Festival’s Artistic Director, is being held at St George’s Basilica, at 8.00pm.

The programme of activities will come to an end on Saturday, the 15th of June with another promising edition of the ‘Leone Goes Pop.’ This concert of pop music, which will feature the other philharmonic band of Victoria, the Leone Band, under the direction of Mro Colin Attard, will be staged as usual on Independence Square, starting at 9.00pm.

The Victoria Local Coucil would like to invite the general public to these special anniversary celebrations which are all free of charge.

Permalink: Concluding anniversary celebrations for the city of Victoria