The venue and time for this concert has been changed to Our Saviour's Church in Ħal Lija at 8PM.

Programme Note

We invite the audience to experience the splendour of St John's Co-Cathedral in a way they have never done before.  This evening has been curated around that most harrowing yet poignant time in the Christian Liturgy through the music and art that has been created over centuries to reflect this.  The glorious marbled floor of the cathedral will be exposed, revealing the Latin epitaphs inscribed on the tombstones, the symbolism and metaphors for death and afterlife, the elaborate coats of arms. We enter to the sound of the king of instruments with Haydn's Terremoto (Earthquake) and are led through one experience after the other, encapsulating the different emotions of the last moments of the Passion of Christ on the cross.  There will be moments of tenderness, moments of angst, moments of transcendental beauty and moments of surprise.  All senses will be engaged in this unique promenade, immersive and interactive experience, in our most magnificent cathedral - scents, lights, movement, sound, words, imagery - entwined with tradition and restrained, but noble, spectacle.

Music will include excerpts from Haydn's Seven Last Words, Mozart's Requiem, Gounod's Les Sept Paroles de Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ sur la crois, Verdi's Requiem, new works inspired by the visionary and mystic, Hildegard von Bingen, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and Albinoni's Stabat Mater. With the participation of: Amadeus Chamber Choir Brian Cefai – tenor,

Natalia Rakhmatulina – Organist ProMużika (Sarah Spiteri – violia, Tatjana Chircop – violin, Nichols Conrad – violin, Matthias Conrad - cello) Jason Camilleri – Trumpeter

Curated by Michelle Castelletti

Programme

Biography

Amadeus Chamber Choir Having established itself as one of Malta’s leading SATB Mixed Choirs, Amadeus Chamber Choir continually seeks to develop musical and cultural talents. Founded in 1990 and directed by leading Maltese Soloist, Mro. Brian Cefai, Amadeus Chamber Choir performs a versatile repertoire of sacred and secular music, embracing various musical genres ranging from 16th century polyphony to contemporary music. ACC successfully rendered Mozart’s Requiem at the Manoel Theatre and at the Basilica of Christ the Redeemer in Senglea. The Choir sang Mozart’s Mass in F major and his Vespri per la Domenica at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 2006, brought to forefront the strong rapport between Musique and Amadeus Chamber Choir. The relationship established between the Accademia Lirica Del Mediterraneo (Director, Mro. Pietro Ballo) culminated in an impressive and uplifting audio visual spectacle based on opera and the performance of Mozart’s Requiem in Monreale Cathedral. The Requiem was performed by the Amadeus Chamber Choir, the Orchestra dell’ Accademia Musicale di Palermo, under the baton of Mro. Brian Cefai. In 2014, the Amadeus Chamber Choir participated in the 1,000 Voices for Peace/Flanders Festival in Belgium, commemorating the first centenary of the Great War, singing during the world première of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Dies Illa, in Koekelberg Cathedral in Brussels and ACC was also invited to sing a concert at the Maltese Embassy.

The Choir has toured Europe extensively, singing in major Cathedrals, Theatres, Concert Halls, singing in England, Germany, Scotland, Austria and Hungary, the Italian Abruzzo region, Greece, Prague, Poland and Spain.

Amadeus has also collaborated with many organisations and has participated in various International Festivals both in Malta and abroad, being awarded recognition forBest Vocal Rendition. ACC performed in the Charity Gala Performance staged at the Manoel Theatre under the patronage of H.E. The President of Malta. Celebrating the 30th Anniversary from its foundation, the Choir performed Fauré’s Requiem and Puccini’s Messa a Quattro Voci con Orchestra at St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Amadeus has been invited to sing during prestigious occasions and concerts, including Malta Première of ‘Symphonic Beatles’, ‘Movies in Concert’,

‘The Passion of the Christ in Words & music’,‘Oratorio’ and ‘Pawlu ta’ Malta’ This past December, ACC organised their 33rd edition of ‘A Prelude to Christmas’,the Christmas concert for charity, this year to be held on the 20th of December at the St. Publius parish church.

Tenor & Maestro Brian Cefai 

Brian Cefai is one of the few Maltese leading soloists who gained recognition for his talents not only on our island, but also overseas where he performed most of his major works. At 22 years he started his vocal training with soprano Antoinette Miggiani and after being presented with the Accademia del Mediterraneo Award, he completed a three year course for perfection in voice with Bulgarian tutor Dame Blagovesta Karnobutlova Dobreva and in England with world famous baritone Derek Hammond Stroud. Brian studied music theory of music and harmony with Mro. Carmelo Pace and orchestration and conducting with Mro. Anthony Chircop. Brian studied intense breathing of both physical and psychological techniques with Mro. Paolo Nani continued his studies in voice coaching pedagogy and singing in London & Warwick as well as conducting at Warwick University with Colin Touchin.

He obtained his fellowship in singing and teaching and this he achieved with Honours. His repertoire includes various genres of music written in different eras, from lieder to oratorio and opera. In 1986 Brian made his debut in London at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and has since been a regular performer in England which include venues such as Wigmore Hall, Leamington Spa, Barbican Centre, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the English National Opera (ENO). Apart from England, Brian performed in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Hungary, France, Sicily, Sweden, Scotland and Wales. He has sung with various personalities including the acclaimed Italian Soprano Katia Riccarelli. He has also joined forces with many tenors from the British Isles in concerts which included Placido Domingo, Sir Harry Seacom and Jose Carreras. Brian’s performances have included basically all the most important national events, such as the concert celebrating the birthday of her majesty the Queen mother of England organized by the Shaftesbury society, the summit between Bush and Gorbachov, the United Nations Leaders concert at the Manoel Theatre, The Chogm concert which was held in Malta, for his holiness Pope John Paul the II during his first visit to Malta, the Messiah being performed all over the world at the same time and for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee amongst other important events. In 2010 Brian performed Mahler’s symphonic poem ‘Das Lied Der Von Der Erde’ along with the world renowned Birmingham philharmonic and Scottish Mezzo Soprano Karen Cargill, at the closing concert of the ‘Sounds New Festival’ held in Canterbury Cathedral.

Brian’s operatic repertoire include major roles in ‘La Boheme’, ‘La Traviata’, ‘Tosca’, ‘Lucia di Lammermoor', ‘L’Amico Fritz’, ‘Tales of Hoffmann',' I Pagliacci’, 'Faust’, ‘Un Ballo in Maschera’, ‘Macbeth’ and minor roles in ‘Aida’, ‘Norma’, ‘Carmen’ and many others. He has also performed in Musicals such as Sir. Denvers in the musical ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. Brian sang major roles in Maltese Operas including Charles Camilleri’s operas ‘Il- Fidwa tal- Bdiewa’ and ‘Il-Wighda’ and in Carmelo Pace’s operas ‘Caterina Dez Guanez’, ‘Ipogea’ and ‘I Martri’. The highly acclaimed Maltese Oratorio ‘Pawlu ta’ Malta’ gave Brian and Profs Charles Camilleri so much acclaim that it landed this Oratorio on the shores of England and Wales where Brian sang excerpts of it in English. In 1990 Brian founded The Amadeus Chamber Choir and has been its director ever since. Amongst the most important works under his baton, he has conducted thirty three

editions of the concert ‘A Prelude to Christmas’. 

Brian has conducted W.A. Mozart’s Requiem for choir, soloists and orchestra at the Manoel Theatre, John Rutter’s ‘Magnificat’ at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and an evening of Mozart’s operas to mark this great composer’s 250th anniversary. He later conducted the Orchestral Academy of Teatro Massimo di Palermo with the participation of his choir in Mozart’s Requiem at the prestigious Cathedral of Monreale. Brian has conducted many major choral works, orchestral concerts, pantomimes, musicals, English operas. In November 2013 Brian celebrated his 30th anniversary as a Tenor with a classical concert ‘Voce della Vita’ held at the Xara Lodge in which he sang and conducted world famous Arias , symphonies and overtures. In the past two years he has composed two masses, one in Latin and one in Maltese. To this day, Brian sings, directs and works on his music compositions. Natalia Rakhmatulina

Natalia Rakhmatulina (Saint-Petersburg) - graduated cum laude from the Faculty of Musicology of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 2012, under the guidance of Prof. Elena Titova. Her academic interest lies mostly in Olivier Messiaen's Pedagogical Activity. Natalia is currently conducting musicological research on this topic within the Faculty of Musicology of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory under the supervision of Prof E.Titova. Natalia has won the award of Best Solfeggio Teacher in St. Petersburg within the Pedagogical Competition - «Pedagogicheski Nadezhdy 2017». She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta within the Music Studies Department, and taught at the Rimsky- Korsakov State Music College of St. Petersburg, and at the G.Sviridov Children's Arts School, St. Petersburg (Russia).

Natalia works as a répétiteur for various singers and instrument players. As an organist Natalia has taken up masterclasses with Prof. Daniel Zaretsky (Russia). She has performed concerts in Italy, Germany and Malta, and currently she is the resident organist at Saint Paul's Church. Natalia has also been involved in Cultural Management activities, especially during the Festival Messiaen au Pays de la Meije, La Grave (France) 2014 & 2015, and the International Conservatory Week Festival, St. Petersburg (Russia).

About ProMożika ProMuzika Ensemble is composed of some of the finest Maltese musicians on the island. Formed in August 2004, the ensemble debuted with its first chamber music concert at Bighi, Kalkara. After years of performing individually as soloists and in various chamber music settings, the musicians of ProMuzika came together to collaborate as an ensemble.

In addition to their dedication to high-level performances, ProMuzika is committed to mentoring young musicians, fostering the next generation of talent. They also strive to stage concerts in historically significant venues that are not typically used for musical performances, thereby promoting both Malta’s rich cultural heritage and its vibrant musical scene.

Internationally, ProMuzika represented Malta at the Europa Musicale festival in Germany in 2005, touring Berlin, Wiesbaden, and Leipzig. They have also performed in Helsinki, Tunisia, Italy, and the UK. In Malta, they remain highly active as members of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, as soloists, and as a chamber ensemble dedicated to inspiring and nurturing both audiences and young musicians alike. Jason Camilleri 

Jason is a professional trumpet player – starting lessons at the age of 8 with the Mnarja band. After 4 years he continued studying under Charles Mizzi. Jason continued studying with 2 brass band musicians, Andre and Shirley Helleur from the UK. As a soloist Jason performed here in Malta as well as abroad. He also forms part of an ensemble known as Abbey Brass (UK) and as well as the leader of Island Brass Quintet (Malta). In 2008, Jason started working with AFM BAND MALTA as a full-time trumpeter. He Studied with Prof Mark O’Keefe, Brendan Ball, Prof Reinhardt Fredrich, Prof. Kristian Steentrup and Paul Thomas, among others during masterclasses abroad. In 2016, he was appointed band master with Għaqda Muzikali Vizittazjoni of għarb. Jason is also a member of ViBE Orchestra.

Jason is under the tuition for advancing and teaching lessons of Mr Robert Waldron USA trumpet expert of (Claude Gordan).

Photo credit: St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation