14 choirs for the first edition of the Gozo International Choir Festival

Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo this week launched the first edition of the Gozo International Choir Festival. For the first time ever in Gozo, 14 choirs - hailing from Gozo, Italy, the UK, Estonia and Hungary - will convene and perform in three prominent village parish churches – St Peter and St Paul’s Basilica in Nadur, the Nativity of Our Lady’s Basilica in Xagħra, and St John’s imposing Rotunda in Xewkija.

Dr Refalo noted that ushering the best of Christmastide, the Gozo International Choir Festival will be a unique opportunity for the general public to enjoy a wide repertoire of songs and seasonal carols in the heart of some of the most charming village cores.

Choral activity in Gozo has characterised the small townscapes, especially during the festive periods, as much as the urban architecture itself. Just as every town and village prided its own basilica or rotunda, with iconic domes and steeples, every community manned and sustained some kind of children or seniors choir. This iconic role of choral activity will be celebrated as local choirs join international ones in one big festival of choral singing. Furthermore, it will also provide an opportunity for local choral bodies to demonstrate the great strides that choir singing has registered in the last decades so much so international levels, successes and reputations have been reached and maintained.

With all this in mind, Euro Art Productions (Italy) and Leon Promotions (Malta) have teamed up to create the first Gozo International Choir Festival. Both companies have a vast experience in organising such international events both locally and even in various other European countries.

“It is thus, a pleasure for the Ministry for Gozo to host this first edition of the Gozo International Choir Festival, in a bid to enhance our significant musical culture and encourage a healthy dialogue with other European counterparts,” Dr Refalo commented.

The Festival will kick off on Friday 9 December at two different venues, the St Peter and St Paul Basilica in Nadur and at the Nativity of our Lady Basilica in Xaghra. Both concerts will start at 6.30pm and each will feature six different choirs performing the best songs from their repertoires, as well as some Christmas carols fit for the season.

The final night of the Gozo International Choir Festival 2016 will be held on Saturday 10 December at the St John the Baptist Rotunda, Xewkija at 6.30pm and will feature performances by eight different choirs, followed by presentations of participation certificates by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo.

The entrance for all concerts is free of charge.