The first determining factor was the selection of the music. While the Leone Band usually compiles a set list for such an occasion with a fine blend of internationally published music and local compositions of creditable artistic merit, a different strategy was opted for this time round. Reasons could have been several – artistic, PR, whatever – but the end result is that this year’s concert attracted a whooping audience of over 600 people, which would have driven any other concert venue (which is not the Aurora) to splash “fully booked” streamers with glee!

The second determining factor was of course the Leone Band’s own performance. Even a sentence with Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave, Swan Lake Suite, Caprice Italien and 1812 Overture becomes heavy, let alone a concert to be performed by what are essentially amateur musicians – better defined as passionate bandisti.

Colin Attard’s stewardship – more than just the conducting on the night – remains undefatigable. He has to interpret what is very much known in the collective ear performed by orchestras with formidable strings sections. And while strings are conveniently transported to clarinets, achieving the same effect is quite a feat. He has to drive the musicians to a solid performance, rich in the colours which the great master would have wanted.

The end result was the enthusiastic audience who honoured this first band of Gozo with its distinguished presence. It was an audience that said a lot about classical music being in or out of fashion; that said a lot about the diminishing (?) potential of bands to attract crowds; that said a lot about the quality of music one should expect from local bands.

Throughout the event, hosted by Christiana Farrugia, Leone Philharmonic Society President, Dr Michael Caruana, took the opportunity to show his thanks and appreciation to the volunteer activists who make it possible for the musical organisation to achieve such remarkable accomplishments, encapsulated in the 160th anniversary celebrations. His was a short but very meaningful address, as was the presentation of new musical instruments to 3 music students with the Society – a French Horn for Alessandro Azzopardi, a Trumpet for Julien Bouvier and a Trombone for Zac Refalo.

During the past year, in celebrating its 160th anniversary, the Leone Band performed a concert of Sacred Music at the Gozo Cathedral entitled La Croce on 3rd April, a concert of pop, rock and electronic music – Leone Goes Pop 14th ed. – at the Aurora Opera House on 27th May, several commemorative concerts in Poznan, Poland, between 7th and 14th June, an open-air Jubilee Concert in Republic Street Victoria, infront of the Aurora Opera House on 9th August and this symphonic concert on 10th November which should go down in history as a quantum leap in the 73 year-old tradition of annual concerts. The next and last two remaining important events for the Leone Band in 2023 would be Republic Day Concert on 16th December at Independence Square, Victoria, and The Leone Grand Christmas Show on Friday 22nd December at the Aurora Opera House as well.

Masterpieces by Tchaikovsky was produced with the generous support of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage within the Ministry for Gozo.