Carols by Candlelight 9th Edition

The festive season is approaching and simultaneously a particular interest is awakened by those who attend for the annual Christmas event of ‘Carols by Candlelight’. The event, which last year was listed with the top ten Christmas concerts in Europe on ‘The Guardian’.

For the ninth consecutive year, Schola Cantorum Jubilate is presenting the main Christmas event in Gozo – Carols by Candlelight. The choir, under the direction of its dynamic director Marouska Attard, start rehearsing Christmas carols as from September to make sure they are well prepared to entertain the audience. The organisers are busily preparing all logistics, stage scenography and all other related communications for another outstanding presentation as in previous years. Every detailed is taken into consideration because it is strongly believed that each year the performance and all that it brings along, need to attract, entertain and surprise the audience. Above all, it has to leave an imprint of joy and satisfaction in all those who attend with open hearts and ears to get a special message for Christmas.

Carols by Candlelight 2011 will be held on two soirées; Friday 9th and Saturday 10th December at 7.30pm at St. Augustine’s Monastery in Victoria, Gozo. The repertoire includes various popular pieces which are a must for Christmas like ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Adeste Fidelis’. Obviously there will be pieces by the ‘Christmas composer’, John Rutter and other pieces which will help the audience venture back in childhood days and hum along known melodies. The foyer will host another exhibition, this time by young established artist Paul Stellini. Following the concert, the audience will reach the Monastery’s Renaissance Cloister for a mouth-watering meal served with complementary wine.

Patrons have the opportunity to spend the night at the Monastery which has ensuite rooms. This will help them indulge themselves in celebration mode… celebration with a sense of altruism and feeling of the real spirit of Christmas.

The proceeds of this event will be forwarded to Ġużeppa Debono Home which caters for singlemothers and organises pro-life activities. The new life which germinated in the cave of Bethlehem 2011 years ago is still felt with every birth being it of humans or else other animals. Births bring happiness and strong emotions which at times are forgotten and ‘Carols by Candlelight’ strives to bring back these emotions and help the audience appreciate the gift of life.

Tickets will be on sale as from the first week of November from D’Amato Records Shop in Valletta and Bargate Bookshop in Victoria. Patrons holding tickets only will be allowed for this event. For further queries or for booking accommodation at the Augustinians’ contact the organisers by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mobile phone: 79450950. More information on www.scjchoir.com.