Start Date & Time: 14/08/2017 - 12:00 am
End Date & Time: 14/08/2017 - 12:00 am
75th Anniversary of the Santa MarijaConvoy Concert
As part of the unique 75th Anniversary commemoration of the Santa Marija Convoy, FAA held a prestigious concert at St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral on the evening of Monday 14th August 2017. This follows the successful FAA ‘Son et Lumiere’ event held two days earlier on the Saturday evening of the 12th August 2017 on the Senglea waterfront. The Reverend Canon Simon Godfrey welcomed everyone to the event, followed by an introduction from Astrid Vella and a welcoming address from the American Ambassador Glenna Kathleen Hill. The event was honoured by Ambassadors Giovanni Umberto De Vito (Italy), Glenna Kathleen Hill (United States of America), and Stuart Gill (United Kingdom), together with a well attended audience of FAA members and the general public.
The concert featured two musical performances separated by a 30-minute interlude for refreshments. The first part featured a musical piece entitled “Homage ghar-Resistenza: Malta the Ohio and Santa Marija”, specially written for this unique occasion by two composers – American maestro Prof. John M. Kennedy, and the Maltese John Galea. This composition was performed for the first time by a 7-piece orchestra, with the support of the US Embassy.
The interlude allowed the audience to take refreshments in the recently refurbished cellars, The Undercroft Café.
The second part featured the famous violin virtuoso Lorenzo Meraviglia, who performed Bach, Tchaikovsky (Valse Sentimentale) and other pieces on a privately owned 1730 Omobono Stradivarius violin. Lorenzo began his performance by slowly making his way up the central aisle while playing his first piece. He thrilled the audience with his brilliant interpretation, fingers flying across the violin strings in the faster musical pieces. Each piece met with tremendous applause from the audience.Lorenzo was accompanied by pianist Mauro Ivano Benaglia on a historical 1804 John Broadwood & Sons piano. Lorenzo and Mauro ended their final piece to a standing ovation from the music-loving audience.
Astrid Vella gave the closing remarks, followed by Martin Scicluna (Restoration Appeal Committee joint chairman), who appealed to the audience for contributions to the Anglican Pro-Cathedral’s restoration fund.
Derek Moss
FAA Volunteer
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