The JP2 Cultural Foundation, in collaboration with Gozo Cathedral, St. Dominic Basilica in Valletta, and Our Lady of Sorrow’s Parish Church in St. Paul’s Bay, will welcome esteemed UK choir The Paston Singers for an exclusive concert tour across the Maltese Islands.
Founded by David Ballard, The Paston Singers initially performed as Cantores Sancti Nicolai, in honour of St. Nicholas, a parish with which the choir was originally affiliated. The name “Paston” reflects the group’s ties to Paston School, a historic grammar school in North Walsham, Norfolk, established by Sir William Paston in 1606. The Paston family’s legacy includes the Paston Letters, a renowned collection of documents offering rare insights into the English gentry between 1422 and 1509–a period marked by the War of the Roses, the early Tudor era, and significant linguistic changes. In 2018, select lower-voice members of The Paston Singers performed Sarah Rogers’ Agnes: A Pocket Oratorio using texts from the Paston Letters during the Paston: 600 celebrations, with accompaniment from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
The choir’s impressive history includes concert tours in Spain, where they sang at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia and Montserrat Abbey, as well as in Portugal and Yorkshire. They have premiered compositions by notable composers such as Laurence Caldecote and Michael Finnissy, and they were among the first to perform John Rutter’s Carol of the Magi. Known for their regular appearances throughout Norfolk, The Paston Singers are celebrated for their performances at Salle Church, famed for its remarkable acoustics, and for their role as a guest choir at many English cathedrals.
During their Maltese tour, The Paston Singers will hold three public performances:
• Thursday, 31st October 2024, 7:00 pm at the Assumption of Our Lady Cathedral Church, Victoria, Gozo
• Friday, 1st November 2024, 7:15 pm at St. Dominic Basilica, Valletta
• Saturday, 2nd November 2024, 6:45 pm at Our Lady of Sorrow Parish Church, St. Paul’s Bay
The general public is warmly invited to attend these unique concerts and experience the choir’s celebrated musical talent firsthand.
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