The Malta Independent on Sunday
Notes on...
Itried to keep myself to myself as much as possible in the last couple of weeks as I did not want to spread my cold to others and nor did I want to pick up more germs of which there are plenty around it seems. I missed, with great regret, Charpentier’s Te Deum by Ensemble Correspondance at St John’s which must have been quite something. The Friends of the Manoel also organized a vocal concert at St Paul’s Anglican Pro- Cathedral and that went by the wayside as well.
Elektra Ltd. are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and I did not make the reception, damn it. Gaby Ellul Vincenti who started it all was awarded a Legion d’Honneur by the French government. She is probably the only Maltese woman, alive and in Malta, who has received such a distinguished French award. Clever girl.
As if that were not enough I did not even make the Russian New Year celebration at San Anton palace which takes place in the Russian chapel with a reception afterwards. Whenever I’ve attended it was always an enjoyable evening with some Russian group entertaining us.
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Cappella Sa* n c*t* ae Catharinae
But let me tell you a little about an event I did attend even if it was in December.
I have been following the fortunes of Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s own Chamber Choir, which is led by Alex Vella Gregory, on Facebook and in the newspapers. They share a passion for Renaissance and polyphonic music. I had missed their concerts so far and in the spirit of Christmas I was determined that I was going to the one to Gaudate at the Basilica of St Helen in Birkirkara. So I persuaded a very religious friend to accompany me. I knew she would enjoy it.
St Helen’s is a vast church so there was no question of our not finding a place in church if parking delayed us awhile. But it was easy to park, on that cold evening, right by the church. At the end of the evening we said to each other that it had been well worth it.
The programme was varied and was certainly far from the standard repertoire of Christmas carol evenings. The choir started with a plainchant hymn Puer Natus est nobis. I love early church music We were brought up singing – and indeed listening – to plainchant in our school days. I miss it. There is something soothing about it, other worldly, a glimpse of heaven.
This was followed by a 14th century medieval carol, two French traditional songs and a German 16th century one as well as a composition by Martin Luther. There was an Italian composition by St Alfonso Maria de’Liguori and three Spanish ones, one by Sr Juana Inés de la Cruz, followed by a Hungarian traditional song. The choir ended with three familiar carols: a traditional Sicilian one and the Maltese Il-Benniena t’Emmanwel, finishing off with Adeste Fideles in three languages where some of us bravely joined in.
The concert was in aid of the restoration of the 18th century pulpit and it was followed, the following day, by another concert at the Church of Our Lady of Victories, Valletta, also held in aid of the church restoration.
Although I welcome these Ecumenical times of the Catholic Church however I miss not only Gregorian chant but the purple drapings of churches during Lent and the Latin Mass. I loved the Kyrie and the Gloria from William Byrd’s Mass for three voices which this 16-member choir sang so beautifully. We have com* e **a l o* ng way since Gustav Mahler had to convert from Judaism to Catholicism in order to become director of the Vienna Court Opera, a post which no Jew was permitted to hold. In order to conquer the Gentile and genteel Viennese by all means possible, Mahler took the Catholic sacraments. An earlier convert was the German poet Heinrich Heine, who said that ‘a certificate of bap- tism is the entry ticket to European culture.’ But assimilation has never been easy as today’s refugees are finding. The members* * o *f * the choir like the progamme, were ‘international’ with Alex Vella Gregory as musical director. I look forward to their next concert.
My friend commented that it would have created a more festive ambience had the lights been dimmed and if we had been asked to bring along a candle. True. I admired the huge crib which had real oranges displayed in a basket. Nice touch I thought.
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Lunch at th* e Westin lounge
Lunch at the Westin Lounge and piano bar is a pleasant experience and a civilised affair. I was the guest of Edward Bonello, Director of Sales and Marketing, Karen Mifsud Naudi and Sabrina Agius all very involved in running the Westin so well. Edward had become a father of baby Bettina and you could see the love light in his eyes that lunchtime as he spoke of her.
I love the Westin Lounge with its comfortable seating and excellent service. In fact, following this successful lunch I went again lately, twice, with friends who both enjoyed it. Their club sandwiches are divine as are their lamb samosas. It is a varied menu and very well priced. In the evening there is usually a pianist playing in the background. At Christmastime it is beautifully decorated. My kind of place. Perhaps I should not be telling you all this. Please don’t all go at once!
Eau Thermale Avene
The ever resourceful Elisa McKenna, mother of two, manages to juggle her beauty business Pharma with being a wife and mother. They are the local agents for Eau Thermale Avène, the French brand dedicated to sensitive skin. After a talk by one of the representatives who came to Malta for the launch, Villa Arrigo came out with some delicious canapés and drinks. A most pleasant evening.
*** In my Diary featuring the fundraising dinner of the Malta Heart Foundation, a couple of weeks ago, somehow the photo of Sammy Galea was left out. So I am publishing it today as he gave us so much pleasure that evening playing vintage songs as well as classical music. If ever an example of a life lived in music was needed, Sammy Galea would quite likely be among the first names to come to most people’s minds.
A pillar of the Maltese music scene for decades, this talented musician, songwriter and composer turned 80 in January. He continues to be active and his wife Doreen told me that evening that he plays all day. He was last seen playing at the Phoenicia which is closed for refurbishment at present. I hope he will return there once is opens. I wish to salute him and thank him for his music.
Sammy Gal* ea