CENTENARY CONCERT BY LA STELLA PHILHARMONIC BAND

Tonight’s centenary concert by the La Stella Philharmonic Band at St George’s Square in collaboration with the Victoria International Arts Festival was a radiant homage to Msgr Giuseppe Farrugia, whose music—preserved exclusively in the La Stella Band Archives—was brought to life with passion and precision.

The evening featured two evocative marches: Marcia a San Giorgio (1888), a bold tribute to Gozo’s patron saint, and Un Fiore per Te (1885), a lyrical dedication to Sacerdote D.G. Cremona, both showcasing Farrugia’s melodic elegance.

A moving revival of ‘Salve Luce’, engraved digitally by Mario Mizzi, added spiritual depth, with soloists Ruth Portelli, Michel Angelo Muscat, and Louis Cassar delivering heartfelt performances that resonated through the square.

Earlier selections like ‘Deus tuorum militum’, ‘Spento è il drago’ and ‘Su Garzoni’ (with Portelli’s solo) enriched the program with a sacred flair. The Piccole Stelle Choir, under Sylvana Attard, added a celestial layer to the arrangement, blending youthful vigour and tradition.

The band transformed St George’s Square into a living archive of Gozo’s musical heritage. The concert was not only a tribute to Farrugia’s centenary but a celebration of the enduring spirit of La Stella Band and its commitment to cultural preservation.

Indeed… a night where every note bloomed like a flower—timeless, fragrant, and full of light.

Mro Dr John Galea – 12/7/2025

(Photo credits: Noel Galea)