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Programme Processional: César Franck - Entrée in E major, CFF 37
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Benedetto Marcello - I Cieli Immensi Narrano, S 618Joint Choirs [conductor, Brian; organist, Natalia]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Ave Verum Corpus, K 618Joint Choirs [conductor, Brian; organist, Elisabeth Conrad]
John Rutter - For the Beauty of the Earth
Joint Choirs [conductor, Brian; organist, Liz]
Antonio Vivaldi - Gloria in D major, RV 589 (first movement)
Joint Choirs [conductor, Brian; organist, Natalia]
Organ Interlude
Charles Camilleri - Wine of Peace [organist, Natalia]
Maurice Duruflé - Ubi CaritasSPCS [conductor Hugo]
Francesco Azzopardi - Virgo PrudentissimaSPCS [conductor Hugo]
César Franck - Panis AngelicusJoint Choirs [conductor, Hugo; organist, Liz]
Johann Sebastian Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, (from ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben’ (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147 Joint Choirs [conductor, Hugo; organist, Liz]
Gabriel Fauré - In Paradisum (from ‘Requiem in D Minor’, Op 48)
Joint Choirs [conductor, Hugo; organist, Liz]
Ralph Vaughan Williams (arr) - The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune
Joint Choirs [conductor, Hugo; organist, Liz]
Giovanni Gabrieli - Canzonae a 4
Canzon (I) a 4, Ch.186Canzon (II) a 4, Ch.187Canzon (III) a 4, Ch.188Canzon (IV) a 4, Ch.189
[Island Brass]
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Sicut Cervus
Amadeus Chamber Choir [conductor, Brian]
Charles Camilleri - Ir-Rabta/It-Tislima (from ‘Pawlu ta' Malta’)
Amadeus [tenor, Brian; conductor, Michelle; organist, Natalia]
Geroge Frederick Handel - Hallelujah Chorus (from ‘Messiah’, HWV 56)
Joint Choirs [conductor, Michelle; organist, Natalia]
Artist profile
Amadeus Chamber Choir
Having established itself as one of Malta’s leading SATB Mixed Choirs, Amadeus Chamber Choir continually seeks to develop the musical and cultural talents of choristers, activate musical and cultural initiatives, participate in concerts, festivals and charitable events, locally and abroad, as well as provide recreational facilities to its members. Founded and directed by leading Maltese Soloist, Mro. Brian Cefai, Amadeus Chamber Choir performs a versatile repertoire of sacred and secular music, delighting both singers and audiences, embracing various musical genres ranging from 16th century polyphony to contemporary music. Since its inception in 1990, the Choir has won an enviable reputation and much acclaim, both locally and abroad, thanks to the energy and dynamism of both Choristers and Director.
St Paul’s Choral Society
The St Paul Choral Society is one of Malta’s leading polyphonic choirs. Its repertoire ranges from the 16th century to the present day. Founded in 1998, it has more than fifty members from all walks of life who meet every week for rehearsals and performances. Since its inception it has been under the musical direction of Dr Hugo Agius Muscat. The choir’s reputation grew quickly after successful concerts at St Paul’s Pro- Cathedral, Mdina Cathedral and St John’s Co-Cathedral. The major works it has presented include Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, Stainer’s The Crucifixion, the Requiem Masses by Fauré, Michael Haydn and Mozart, the oratorio San Gregorio Magno by Carmelo Scerri, the Litaniæ Lauretanæ Beatæ Mariæ Virginis and Missa Brevis in C major by Mozart, Handel’s Chandos Anthem No. 9, the Malta première of Karl Jenkins’ Te Deum, Gounod’s Messe Solennelle de Sainte-Cécile, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Beethoven’s Mass in C major, as well as a very large number of smaller-scale works. To date it has given more than 300 performances in Malta and abroad. It is primarily a concert choir, but also has an extensive liturgical repertoire and regularly supports major liturgical events at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral and other churches.
The SPCS has held very successful tours in London (2011), Austria (2013), Paris (2015), Spain (2017), Germany, Luxembourg and France (2019), and Rome (2023), singing in prestigious venues including St Paul’s Cathedral (London), Westminster Cathedral (London), St Stephen’s Cathedral (Vienna), the Votivkirche (Vienna), the Kollegienkirche (Salzburg), St James’ Cathedral (Innsbruck), the Madeleine (Paris), St Sulpice (Paris), the Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris), Burgos Cathedral, León Cathedral, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Metz Cathedral, Luxembourg Cathedral, St Peter’s Basilica (Vatican), and the Basilicas of the Sacred Heart, St Sabina and St Cecilia (Rome). The SPCS is a formally established association with cultural and philanthropic aims.
Organists
Elisabeth Conrad
Prof. Elisabeth Conrad is an organist, pianist and cellist with a strong reputation as a keyboard accompanist. At the age of twenty she was the youngest ever Maltese to be awarded the LRSM Diploma in Organ Performing. She has been the St Paul Choral Society’s organist since 1999; in this role she has regularly played the principal organs at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral and St John's Co-Cathedral, as well as in elite venues abroad during choir tours. Apart from holding the LRSM organ diploma, Ms Conrad is also the holder of the ATCL and ALCM diplomas in Pianoforte performance, as well as the ABRSM diploma in Cello performance. In 2000, as a cellist, she formed part of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, and for many years was a casual member of the Malta National Orchestra. Dr Conrad is a specialist in environmental management, successfully completing her doctoral studies in the United Kingdom in 2010.
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 - «Pedagogicheskie 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).
Directors
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. He studied with Maltese and foreign voice coaches. He started his vocal training with soprano Antoinette Miggiani and in 1984 was presented with the Accademia Del Mediterraneo award, after which he completed a three year course for perfection with Bulgarian tutor Dame Blagovesta Karnobutlova Dobreva and in England with world famous baritone Derek Hammond Straud. Brian studied theory of music and harmony with Maestro Carmelo Pace and orchestration and conducting with Maestro Anthony Chircop.
Hugo Agius Muscat
Dr Hugo Agius Muscat is a consultant public health physician with a passion for music. He studied organ with Mgr Carmelo Scerri (organist, Luçon Cathedral, 1935-40; St John's Co-Cathedral, 1946-81) and theory and harmony with Carmelo Pace. In 1992 he was awarded the Licentiate Diploma in Organ Performing by the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM), and in 2008 the Diploma of Colleague by the Royal College of Organists (CRCO). Since 1983 he has been titular organist at St Paul's Anglican Pro- Cathedral, Valletta, and for a year (1985-86) was organist at St John's Co- Cathedral locum tenens. He has performed as soloist or accompanist at major venues in Austria, Czechia, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Scotland and Spain. Dr Agius Muscat has worked with many of Malta’s leading soloists and choirs, including the world-renowned tenor Joseph Calleja. In 1996, Dr. Agius Muscat published a CD of Sacred Arias by Maltese Composers with Andrew Sapiano and Joseph Vella Bondin. He has also been active in musicology: in the 1980’s he transcribed, notated and edited works found in the Mdina Cathedral Museum, including the Missa Virginis Mariae (1568) by Claudio Merulo and various works by 18th century Maltese composers. In 1999, with Luciano Buono, he edited the book Old Organs in Malta and Gozo.
Michelle Castelletti
Dr Michelle Castelletti identifies as an interdisciplinarian. Following a Doctorate in Music, she extended her studies into the Liberal Arts, as well as in architectural history, literature, the visual arts, and mediaeval history. Captivated by the interrelationship between space and the senses, she is currently engaged in doctoral research at New College, University of Oxford. Music favourites include conducting at Birmingham Symphony Hall, Richard Strauss and Mahler in Canterbury Cathedral, conducting soloist Carmine Lauri (London Symphony Orchestra) and Respighi at the Valletta International Baroque Festival, the privilege of conducting the Canterbury Cathedral choristers, conducting Arvo Pärt’s music for Arvo Pärt himself, Proms in the Park style concerts under the auspices of HE the President of Malta, a run of Mozart’s L’ Impresario, Carmina Burana with Queen Mary University of London and the Barts London Music Societies, Stravinsky’s Firebird, conducting her own London-Sinfonietta-style contemporary music ensemble, and even a production of Sweeney Todd. She was also the Director of Music for Jubilee Celebrations, ceremonies, and conferment of honorary awards (e.g.: former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams) at Canterbury Cathedral, and is currently the director of Gaudete Choir at Blackfriars, Oxford.
She is many times on jury panels, e.g. British Composer Awards/Ivor Novello, Conferment of the Title of Professor for conservatoires, and several recitals, entrance exams and finals, as well as competitions. Michelle has been privileged to work with some exceptional artists in her life.
She has also curated Study Days at Wigmore Hall and taken performances to the Southbank Centre. Other projects she was involved in include BBC R3 Young Artists Day, BBC R3 live In Tune and Music Matters programmes and BBC Proms Portraits. One of her Britten arrangements conducted by Sir Andrew Davis received a five star review on The Telegraph and is now out on CD. She remains very proud of having worked with Krzysztof Penderecki (who she also nominated and presented with an Honorary Degree) to help bring his St Luke Passion to Canterbury, as well as the UK premiere of Seven Gates of Jerusalem to England (Manchester), receiving a five-star review on The Guardian.
Her curations have been shortlisted for THE Award for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year, and won The Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. Her work has been performed in Berlin, Cardiff, Canterbury, Cork, Dublin, Hangzhou, Helsinki, Limerick, London, Montréal (Québec), Munich, Nürnberg, Porto, Rovaniemi, Tokyo, Valletta – by many ensembles and orchestras, including: the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Dalia Stasevska, Helsinki Philharmonic with Susanna Mälkki, BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Jac van Steen, Lapland Chamber Orchestra with John Storgårds. Michelle is published by Universal Edition Vienna.
Her completion of Mahler 10 has been recorded by BIS Records and ARS Produktion, and has won, amongst other accolades, the Opus Klassik Award, and was the No 1 Orchestral Choice of the Month on BBC Music Magazine, The Proms Edition. It has also been choreographed as a full ballet and has been getting two full runs every year at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, in Munich since 2020. She is a Trustee of ORA Singers, the Chair of Oxford Music Network, a tutor for the University of Oxford, and the Director of the Oxford Festival of the Arts.
Island Brass
Jason Camilleri, trumpet
Mark Saliba, trumpet
Isaac Cassar, horn
Christian Fenech, bass trombone
Island Brass was founded in 2006 by Trumpeter Jason Camilleri and tuba player Antoine Theuma both from the Island of Gozo. It was first formed as a brass quintet all brass players based on Gozo, performing a lot mainly in Gozo and Malta. The quintet had established a good repertoire and performed a lot of concerts and weddings. In 2020 Trumpeter Jason Camilleri took over and changed the format of the ensemble. Island Brass than as now it combined players based locally and others based abroad from other musical hubs in a variety of ensemble sizes and instrumentations, to perform at concerts, recitals, weddings, and special occasions, with repertoire ranged from Renaissance to both art and light music of the present day, bringing together a vast range of performance experience.
The Three Palaces Festival is organised by Festivals Malta supported by the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government (Kultura).
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta
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