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The tenth edition of “Il-Kuncert tal-Milied” was presented by the Chorus Urbanus with such great success at the Astra Theatre for the second successive year. This edition was held on the 21st of December with the participation of the Chorus Urbanus and the National Orchestra of Malta under the musical direction of Mro. John Galea.

This year’s edition was attended by a large audience whose appreciation of the performance was evidenced by the warm applause that followed every execution. The first part of the concert was purely orchestral where the National Orchestra took centre stage and regaled the audience with a fine selection of famous pieces by Mozart and by the Johann Strausses, the Father and the Son.

In fact the concert opened with a fine rendition of the overture from Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart. This was followed by Johann Strauss Jr’s Perpetuum Mobile, An der schonen blauen Donau and Auf dr Jagd. However Strauss isn’t Strauss without the famous Fruhlingstimmen (Blue Danube) and the boisterous Radetzky March by Strauss Sr. The Blue Danube was played exquisitely by the orchestra and this effort was readily appreciated by the audience who applauded warmly after its execution. The audience then joined the orchestra with rhytmic applauses during the performance of the Radetzky March which brought this first part of the concert to a rousing end.

A short poem recited by the concert’s compere, Chev Joe M. Attard, heralded the second part of the concert which saw the Chorus Urbanus enter the limelight for his performance of Christmas carols accompanied by the orchestra. O Little Town of Bethlehem with the participation of Mario Portelli (tenor) accompanied by the choir opened this second part of the concert. On a special request, Oliver Sperling’s Gloria de Noel, with John Galea’s orchestration was performed, bringing memories of the highly successful Grand Concert at Strasbourg Cathedral last year as part of the choral tour in Alsace by the Chorus Urbanus. It was then Yvonne Galea’s (soprano) turn for a solo rendition of the sublime Silent Night. We’re Walking in the Air was performed by six young female voices, namely Ruth Portelli, Gabriella Azzopardi, Christine Camilleri, Annalise Xerri, Marisa Galea and Stephanie Galea with background accompaniment by the choir.

It was then the turn of John Galea’s Hodie Christus Natus Est which was being premiered in its orchestral version precisely during this concert. This technically challenging piece was performed impeccably by the Chorus Urbanus who showed a strong command of technique and great attention to dynamics that rendered this piece one of the highlights of the concert. One of the most popular carols ever written, Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night, was performed by Joseph Aquilina, who was the guest singer of this concert. The choir accompanying the soloist in an a 4 voci arrangement by John Galea was very effective and the audience acknowledged this with a long applause.

The very popular Ukrainian Bell Carol has become a household piece in each year’s concert and the Chorus Urbanus interpretation was very effective in representing the festive tolling of the bells; indeed a very adapt piece for such an occasion. Noel Galea (bass) together with Yvonne Galea and Joseph Aquilina together with the Chorus Urbanus, then performed perhaps one of the most famous Christmas carols, Adeste Fideles, in three languages, in Maltese, English and in Latin. The concert came to an end with a rousing performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah by Handel. The long applause following this execution led Mro John Galea to make an encore performance of the Radetzky March and end the concert a la grande.

At the start of the concert, Architect Edward Scerri, the Choir’s President, delivered a welcoming message to those present. The Honourable Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, Mr Robert Tabone, Mayor of Victoria, and Mgr Paul Cardona, Archpriest of St. George, were among those present for the concert.

During the concert, a collection in aid of the Arka Foundation was held.