The fourth week of the GauLive series for Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, features three events, showcasing its artist-in-residence, US organist-pianist-conductor Alexander Frey.

The first event being on Monday, the 21st of March, when Frey will present a lecture-recital entitled “Gershwin: the man and his music”

Being a very versatile artist himself, Frey will be in his mettle talking about the great American composer George Gershwin whilst performing works for piano and illustrating all with some rare and interesting footages about Gershwin’s achievements in both popular and classical genres.

Frey will then be the protagonist as an organist in an atypical musico-spiritual experience, “Le Chemin de la Croix” (‘The Stations of the Cross’) being held at the Xewkija Rotunda on Thursday, the 24th of March.

The organisers said that the mammoth 14-movement work by Marcel Dupré, one of the most poignant large-scale works in the organ repertoire, intersperses a musical commentary on each station with poetic meditations by Paul Claudel – which will be recited in their English translation by Sue Scantlebury, Marion Sayers and Antony Edridge.

All is being enhanced by the projection of a “Via Crucis” by contemporary Gozitan artist Austin Camilleri, treasured at the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy at San Pawl tat-Targa, Naxxar, and as photographed by another Gozitan artist, Daniel Cilia.

Frey will finally accompany the Gaulitanus Choir, the organiser of the festival, in John Stainer’s very famous oratorio, “The Crucifixion.”

This meditation on the passion of the Holy Redeemer, will also feature tenor Alan Sciberras and bass-baritone Louis Andrew Cassar under the direction of Gaulitana artistic director, Colin Attard.

The concert is being held on election day, Saturday, the 26th of March, at Gharb Basilica, in collaboration with the Gharb Local Council. This will be the third and final Lent-themed event.

Entrance to the concerts, all starting at 7.30pm and held in compliance with health regulations, is free. Reservations for the concerts can be made on bookings.gaulitana@gmail.com

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