It was indeed a very lovely evening as the Aurora opened its doors to host the Gaulitana: Festival of Music, as it opened its 15th edition with From the New World: a symphonic opening.

as we return to some semblance of normality

Far from full to the brim, but brimming with excitement as we return to some semblance of normality after (if we may say so) COVID-19, the Aurora heaved a welcoming sigh of relief as it flew its flag, rolled the red carpet, turned on its lights and joined the Gaulitanus Choir in welcoming His Excellency the President of Malta, Dr George Vella and his wife.

a very in-form Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Colin Attard

In a smaller event that might have gone unnoticed to many, the Aurora’s own chorus children were  treated with a short adapted presentation on the composer and the work in advance. Subsequently they could be spotted enjoying the classical concert as they could interpret what they were listening to, and making a good sense of the context and the men behind the musical masterpiece, including a very in-form Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Colin Attard.

The evening opened Overture for a Centenary; a work composed by a then 24-year old Colin Attard, but not before having the house rising for the national salute upon His Excellency’s and the First Lady’s arrival with the National Anthem of Malta.

After a merited applause for his own work, Colin Attard took the microphone to say a few words. Indeed it was pertinent for him to note how the title and choice of ‘From the New World’, was meant to allude to the new world we were meant to live, after (if we may say so) COVID-19, but with a twist of fate, it is an equally uneasy new world we are faced with, with the latest updates of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. In this sense, Attard joined the international artistic community that: “what is happening in Ukraine will end soon with the least number of victims possible.”

And with that, he went on to conduct the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in an exciting rendition of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (From the New World).

The evening was rounded up with a final national salute and drinks in the 29th-April-1956 Hall on the Aurora’s second floor.

Albert George Storace reviews Gaulitana’s Opening Night at the Aurora. Click here to read more.