Maltese music in Edinburgh

Maltese music has featured quite regularly in Scotland during the past month. The Chamber Choir of the University of Edinburgh lately gave a performance of Giuseppe Balzano's cantata Adiuro Vos for soloists, choir and strings. This cantata, forming part of a set of three, was edited by Maltese composer Joseph Vella.

The concert, which was performed on May 24, included the Nisi Dominus by Handel and the Nelson Mass by Haydn.

Both the Maltese work and the composer, up till then completely unknown in Scottish musical circles, came in for some very positive feedback from the audience and the critics covering the event.

The Chamber Choir of the University of Edinburgh is a very versatile ensemble whose repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present day. In fact several works by Joseph Vella feature regularly in their repertoire. These include his secular a cappella works, namely his madrigals and the madrigal cycle The Seasons.

The five-part Rosalind's Madrigal (words by Thomas Lodge) seems to be a favourite of theirs. It was once again performed on April 23 in the Concert Hall of the University of Edinburgh. The Chamber Choir of the University of Edinburgh is directed by Eric von Ibler.