“Connections” a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the bilateral relations.

It was a real honour to be asked to curate the concert in celebration of the 60 years of bilateral relations between Malta and Australia for and on behalf of the Australian High Commission in Malta. The programme developed into an eclectic mix of Australian & Maltese contemporary classical works as well sacred and secular music from both countries, Austria and the UK. There was also traditional music from Malta, including the first ever piano four-hand arrangement of Flos Carmeli – a traditional Maltese band March, written in 1964, which I performed alongside the Mosta choir director, Bernard Bezzina. 

New music highlights included the Maltese Premiere of Naivasha – Memories from the Lake – by Maltese composer Jesmond Grixti, and the first two movements of Wine Songs (World Premiere) by Australian Composer, Jodi O‘Regan.

I was joined on stage by Australian soprano, Karina Bailey, Australian/Maltese Tenor, Joel Parnis and our friends Kor Assunta Maria from the Mosta Rotunda, Malta.  

The concert concluded with the President of Malta delivering remarks about the significance of the event and also gave a  historical précis of the settlement of Maltese people in Australia. 

It truly was a once-in-a-generation event to be a part of. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Australian High Commissioner in Malta, His Excellency Matt Skelly, his staff and of course my colleagues, for a truly remarkable and memorable event.