Come & Sing (with the participation of the Amadeus Chamber Choir and the St Paul’s Choral Society. Directors: Brian Cefai, Hugo Agius Muscat, Michelle Castelletti)
The Three Palaces 2024
The Three Palaces Festival is eagerly inviting members of the public and interested concertgoers for a chance to be part of one of its upcoming choir concerts 'Come & Sing', taking place on the 31st of October at 7:30pm, at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
We encourage people from all walks of life to participate and sing in one of Malta's most beautiful cathedrals together with Amadeus Chamber Choir and St Paul's Choral Society. For more information and to register please click here. Registration deadline is October 28 at noon. Programme
César Franck Entrée in E major, CFF 37
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Benedetto Marcello I Cieli Immensi Narrano, S 618
ALL CHOIRS
Brian Cefai, conductor
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ave Verum Corpus, K 618
ALL CHOIRS
Brian Cefai, conductor
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
John Rutter For the Beauty of the Earth
ALL CHOIRS
Brian Cefai, conductor
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
Antonio Vivaldi Gloria in D major, RV 589 (first movement)
ALL CHOIRS
Brian Cefai, conductor
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Organ Interlude
Charles Camilleri Wine of Peace
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Maurice Duruflé Ubi Caritas
St Paul’s Choral Society
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor
Francesco Azzopardi Virgo Prudentissima
St Paul’s Choral Society
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor
César Franck Panis Angelicus
ALL CHOIRS
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
Johann Sebastian Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, ALL CHOIRS. (from ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor Leben’ (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
Gabriel Fauré In Paradisum (from ‘Requiem in D Minor’, Op 48)
ALL CHOIRS
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
Ralph Vaughan Williams (arr) The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune
ALL CHOIRS
Hugo Agius Muscat, conductor
Elisabeth Conrad, organist
Giovanni Gabrieli Canzonae a 4
Canzon (I) a 4, Ch186
Canzon (II) a 4, Ch187
Canzon (III) a 4, Ch188
Canzon (IV) a 4, Ch189
[Island Brass]
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Sicut Cervus
Amadeus Chamber Choir
Brian Cefai, conductor
Charles Camilleri Ir-Rabta/It-Tislima (from ‘Pawlu ta' Malta’)
Amadeus Chamber Choir
Brian Cefai, tenor
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Michelle Castelletti, conductor
Geroge Frederick Handel Hallelujah Chorus (from ‘Messiah’, HWV 56)
ALL CHOIRS
Michelle Castelletti, conductor
Natalia Rakhmatulina, organist
Programme Note
It has long been a wish to bring the beautiful tradition of the ‘Come and Sing’ to Malta. An evening that is about engagement, and participation, but also the most glorious of music-making together in a gem above all gems – St John’s Co-Cathedral. Tonight, we hear the Amadeus Chamber Choir and the St Paul’s Choral Society together with participants who have joined in for what will become the tradition of The Three Palaces Festival - the magnificence of choral singing in a ‘Come and Sing’. Together with the majestic organ (at times accompanying the choirs, and at times taking his rightful kingly throne) there will also be a brass quartet to sustain the Venetian link and help recreate the wonder of spatial music with the works of Giovanni Gabrieli heralded from the top balcony. The Knights of St John left an incredible legacy in Malta, not least in visual art and architecture. Another national treasure is the L’Isle Adam Illuminated Choral Books: a set of ten exquisitely illuminated manuscripts, dated 1533 – one of the first commissions by the Grand Master L’Isle Adam while in Malta – from the celebrated scriptorium of the collaborators of Jean Pichore, active in Paris and Rouen. Both are of extraordinary historical and artistic significance. It has been an honour to collaborate with St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation to create a documentary which will be on loop throughout the day in the splendour of the Oratory, which also houses the largest (and only) signed painting by Caravaggio – The Be-heading of St John – to share this world of glorious opulence with everyone.
Artist profile
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 the fore 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 for Best 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 December, ACC are organising 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.
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
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 Straud. 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 and 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 Lamermoor’, ‘L’Amico Fritz’, ‘Tales of Hoffman’,’ 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 ‘Jakyll 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’, ‘Ipogeana’ 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.
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 Quartet
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.