Busy rehearsal schedule ahead of the La Stella Band.

The La Stella Band is currently engaged in a series of rehearsals ahead of the Annual Grand Concert of Saturday 20 November 2010.  The Kuncert Annwali, besides being a highlight in Festival Mediterranea, represents the annual milestone for Gozo’s principal musical ensemble, the La Stella  Band, which knows its roots way back in 1863.  Since then, the La Stella band has been pivotal in the development and promotion of music, art and culture on the Maltese islands.  The inauguration of Teatru Astra, in 1968 was a landmark in this evolving process and the organisation of Festival Mediterranea, which in 2011 will mark the tenth edition, is set to be another significant feat.

Following a busy summer, which sees the La Stella Band performing in almost every village feast in Gozo, in mid September, the band has resumed the weekly rehearsals in preparation for the annual concert. The band is trained by Mro Joseph Vella, the resident conductor of the La Stella Band and Teatru Astra.  The forthcoming concert is yet another highlight in Prof. Vella’s distinguished career, given that 2010 marks the fortieth anniversary since his musical appointment within La Stella Band and Socjeta Filarmonika La Stella.

The programme for the concert has been finalised recently and the Band’s musical assistants are supporting the Sunday rehearsals through weekly lessons aimed at consolidating the individual band sections. 

The respective 2009 Grand Concert, where the La Stella band tuned to perfection Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave and the 1812 Overture has been widely acclaimed by the hundreds of patrons that packed Teatru Astra.  All is set for another pleasing evening on 20 November this year!

Information on Festival Mediterranea which kicks off on Thursday 28 October is available on 21550985 and [email protected] .

 04-10-2010