Although dubbed as such, the famous bass aria from Handel’s Messiah was not on the books during the pleasant lunchtime concert presented recently at St Paul’s Anglican pro-Cathedral in Valletta.

This was the last in the series for this year and it was a Christmas special with two works directly connected with Christmas.

The first was Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, N.8. This was performed by a string quartet consisting of Ana Martinez and Inmaculada Muñoz Salgüero, violins, Karl Mifsud, viola, and Lucie Kucharová.

The performers moved smoothly from one movement to another and whether they were playing the slower grave or the faster vivace and allegro sections, they maintained balance and crispness of delivery and a pleasant warm tone.

The last movement, marked pastorale-largo was truly delightful and gives the work a gentle climax in line with its sub-title “fatto per la Notte di Natale” for which it is known as ‘the Christmas Concerto’.

At the beginning of the concert, the quartet performed one of Handel’s best-known chamber works, an arrangement here of the Sarabande from the keyboard Suite in D minor, HWV 437.

This came across in all its sober, grave solemnity, a mood well-projected later by baritone Ken Scicluna in his rendering of the aria It Is Enough from Mendelssohn’s Elijah. It is a powerful and evocative invocation. This is one of the best known arias from Mendelssohn’s oratorios. In a completely different idiom, Ken Scicluna concluded the brief concert with Irving Berlin’s perennial Christmas favourite, I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas.

The series of lunchtime concerts held at St Paul’s, are presented every Thursday at 1 p.m.