The church’s sacred music and village band clubs are the grassroots of all that is musical in Gozo. As villages began celebrating their patron saints with more elaborate festivities, music became intrinsically more embedded in the celebrations both inside the church and outside of it. Each church commissioned more evocative sacred music, and today each feast has its collection of hymns, mass music, responsorials or liturgical chants and antiphons. During the Triduum, this choral music is usually performed by orchestra, choirs and soloists, resulting in a sumptuous euphonious atmosphere that delights all senses. Outside the church, the bands lead the traditional Gozo festa. Joyous band marches lead the procession of the patron saint and all other street celebrations where the jubilant youth revel in the rhythmic cadence through singing, chanting and dancing. However, it is worth noting that all village bands will stage one concert preceding the feast. This usually involves a repertoire of songs from the classics, film music and musicals, and famous pop, rock and jazz pieces.
The history of the Gozo opera dates back to the late 1970s. Today autumn in Gozo is associated with the two theatres, Astra and Aurora Theatre, each staging an opera in October . This year the Aurora Theatre will be staging Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, which coincidentally was the first opera to be staged in Gozo in 1977. On the other hand, Verdi’s Rigoletto is Astra Theatre’s upcoming production.
Musicals have always been a firm favourite in the island’s cultural calendar. Theatre companies are always hard at work, moving from staging one production to another. Similar to the operas, Gozo’s musicals result from the community’s hard work and master artisans who work hand in hand on various aspects such as set building, costumes, sound and light as befit such productions. Apart from the theatres mentioned above, the Don Bosco Oratory Theatre is also a key player in the local musical scene. This November, the Don Bosco Oratory is set to stage the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the Astra Theatre is already looking at the production of the musical West Side Story in March 2024.
This springtime music festival is significant in Gozo’s musical and cultural events calendar. Gaulitana Festival is a Gaulitanus Choir event focused on creativity and a month-long series of musical events organised in various locations. As a musical endeavour, it brings to the island a variety of styles ranging from operatic and symphonic to chamber and sacred through formal and informal events. The Gaulitana Festival is enriched through non-musical artistic events involving arts, literature and educational opportunities, some extending beyond the festival itself. The Gozo Gaulitana Festival returns in Spring 2024.
Festival Mediterranea is an offshoot of the Astra Theatre, and it aims to bring to a variety of audiences the essence of the Mediterranean’s civilisation, heritage and art. Celebrating the culture, the myth, the history and the legend, the Gozo Festival Mediterranea focuses on the notorious opera along with various concerts and recitals. It incorporates walks, talks and exhibitions to bring a multi-dimensional feel to the festival. The next Festival Mediterranea will take place in October 2023, with the highlights being two representations of the Rigoletto Opera.
Gozo’s Calendar of Events is further spiced up during the summer months with more musical activities. Summer in the Square at Xewkija, I love Xlendi at Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn Mondays at Marsalforn, Mġarr Fridays in Mġarr Harbour, Iljieli Sajfin in Għajnsielem, City Tuesdays in Victoria are some of the events that return summer after summer to ensure that there’s never a shortage of musical entertainment on the island. The dance music scene and parties are another highlight of the island all year long. International DJs are often entertaining throngs of house and techno music lovers on the island.
Over and above all this, there are more cultural events in Gozo! Many musical ensembles, bands, choirs and groups organise their note-worthy events. For example, every August, Gozo’s heavy metal scene stages the Tribute to Rock Legends Concert, and the Christmas season is always busy as many choirs and artists will organise their performances. Some bands and artists will have events going on all year round.
In Gozo, each season has its own rendition of melodies and tunes. While summer is all about the typical Gozo festa, open-air feasts, festivals and concerts, autumn is marked by classical opera; winter is about a string of shows centred on the Christmas theme and spring ushers in a series of musical events like musicals. This is only possible because, over the years, the island has cultivated and celebrated an extraordinary set of professional musicians, singers, directors and composers, some of whom have reached out and made a name for themselves on the international scene too.
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