Kor Malta, Malta’s own national choir, launched
The Arts Council Malta yesterday launched Kor Malta, a project which will see Malta having its own national choir.
“The need for the setting up of a national choir was felt for quite some time and with this project, Arts Council Malta will be filling this void, whilst also delivering an electoral manifesto promise by the Government for the setting up of a national choir,” stated Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici.
“Like it did with previous initiatives, the Council is committed in making this project another success story. This initiative is yet another step forward in the strengthening of professionalisation within the sector,” Minister Bonnici continued.
Arts Council Malta’s Chairman Albert Marshall, said the Council is fully committed in making Kor Malta a huge success.
“Like with other successful initiatives and projects that the Arts Council launched in the past couple of years, including Festivals Malta, Teatru Malta and Żfin Malta, Kor Malta will be having our full commitment and backing. Plans include concerts with the national orchestra, solo concerts and touring abroad,” added Mr Marshall.
Kor Malta will consist of choristers who already form part of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra chorus. They will be supplemented by new choristers, which were chosen by audition.
Kor Malta will also be providing professional training for its choristers with masterclasses by local and international tenors and tutors. Next week, in preparation for its launch concert, choristers will undergo masterclasses with world-famous tenor Nicholas Mulroy. The engagement of a tenor of Mulroy’s calibre for these masterclasses is yet another feather in the cap of the Council and will surely benefit the choristers. The Liverpool-born tenor has performed at many of the world’s greatest concert halls including the Sydney Opera House, the Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonie and much more.
Kor Malta’s launch concert, Motets & Madrigals from Sacred to Profane, will include works by Byrd: Non Nobis Domine; Monteverdi: Adoramus Te Christe; Monteverdi: Sfogava con le Stelle; Palestrina: Sicut Cervus; De Wert: Or si Rallegri il Ciel; De Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium; Bruckner: Christus Factus est; Mendelssohn: Die Nachtigal; Lauridssen: O Magnum Mysterium; Elgar: Lux Aeterna; and Diacono: Quam dilecta Tabernacula tua Domine.
Kor Malta will be making its debut at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta on 2 December at 6pm. The concert will be completely a cappella to showcase more the choir’s capabilities, with choristers positioned in different areas of the cathedral for the different pieces of music. As part of the government’s Outreach in the Community project, the choir will be giving another performance at St Nicholas Parish Church in Siġġiewi on December 4 at 7.30pm.