King’s Own Band anniversary concert
Hats off to the King’s Own Philharmonic Society for its anniversary concert held at the Catholic Institute, in Floriana on February 17.
This year, the band is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation.
The concert was one of six musical concerts the society is organising throughout the year as part of the activities to commemorate this important anniversary. The concert was a great success and the audience fully appreciated and enjoyed both the music and the singing. The evening consisted of a wide selection of musical genres particularly chosen to please as wide an audience as possible.
I wish to congratulate internationallyrenowned tenor Gabriel Arce, born in Argentina, who gave a brilliant interpretation of E Lucevan le Stelle and Nessun Dorma by Giacomo Puccini while soprano Claire Caruana gave a splendid rendition of Voices of Spring by Johan
Straus II. Both then sang as duet Parigi O Cara and Brindisi by Giuseppe Verdi.
Caruana is regular performer concerts.
The appreciative audience greatly welcomed two exclusive works performed in Malta for the first time – The King’s Own by Italian composer Lorenzo Pusceddu and Cycles and Myths by Nuno Osorio, an extremely beautiful piece, which, although classical, sounds quite modern and brings out a mix of contemporary rhythmical sounds, alternating with quiet intermezzi.
The concert, conducted by the band’s director, John Galea, came to an end with the famous Omaggio alla King’s Own, composed by one of the greatest ever directors of the band, Francesco Gobet, followed by the national anthem.
Congratulations also go to Galea who is celebrating his 20th anniversary as maestro of the King’s Own Band. He is working on an oratorio about St Dominic, to be performed by the band later this year.
A word of thanks and praise goes to the society’s indefatigable president, Ivan Piccinino. He has been working untiringly for the society for over 10 years.
GEORGE GUSMAN
ain