Commonwealth musical showcase at Manoel - November 20, 2005

The Commonwealth will be taking the Manoel Theatre by storm on two separate nights with two totally different programmes on Thursday and Saturday, both at 7.30 p.m.

Both the first of these concerts, "The Commonwealth Resounds!", and the second, "A Gala Concert for CHOGM" presented by the Royal Over-Seas League, will highlight the crucial role that music plays in promoting and fostering the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship and fraternity not only among the peoples of the large Commonwealth family, but also among those of the world in general.

"The Commonwealth Resounds!" is a spectacular multicultural event which will bring together outstanding musicians from different cultural traditions across the Commonwealth to collaborate and perform together in Malta.

The Ngati Ranana Maori group from New Zealand will open the evening's entertainment with a musical Maori greeting ceremony. A fusion of musicians from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will follow. The Caribbean will be represented by the Ashe Performing Arts Ensemble from Jamaica which specialises in its native traditional dances, songs, drumming and culture and the spectacular Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra, the only marching steel band in the world.

Australian piano wizard Simon Tedeschi will be performing alongside the Cyprus State Orchestra conducted by Simon Wills as well as Maltese tenor Joseph Aquilina. The Purcell School Trio from the UK, consisting of Hannah Grayson (flute), Rosalind Ventris (viola) and Cecilia Sultana de Maria (harp) will perform next; following this, Ghanaian folk legend Koo Nimo will be joined by members of his group who will provide additional vocals and dance.

Malta and Gozo will bring this mega concert to an end with performances by the Ghaqda Folkloristika tal-Qiegha and the Cantores Sancti Juliani Choir directed by Lino Attard and featuring harpist Cecilia Sultana de Maria. The concert promises to be a wonderful feast for the eye and the ear - and that's not all!

Two days later, "A Gala Concert for CHOGM" will bring together some of the most exciting talents from Australia, Canada, Malta, Nigeria and South Africa who have been supported in recent years by the Royal Over-Seas League through its Annual Music Competition and Commonwealth Music Scholarships.

Over the past 50 years, the Royal Over-Seas League has established itself as the pre-eminent Commonwealth organisation supporting young classical musicians - we too shall have the pleasure of benefiting from this endeavour during the concert on Saturday at the Manoel when we shall have a wealth of musical talent unfolding at our feet.