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History of the Collegium Musicum Choir

The origins of the Collegium Musicum go back to the years 1979 to 1982 with various performances being held at the Manoel Theatre. The official debut of the choir conducted by Mro. Dion Buhagiar, however, took place in the year 1983 with the performance of the Paukenmesse by Joseph Haydn.

Since then, the choir has been very active in organising various concerts including premiers and other works such as Judas Maccabeus and the Messiah by George Fredrik Handel, German Requiem by Johannes Brahms.  It has also featured works of Maltese composers such as the opera Agnese Visconti by Anton Nani, Francesco Azopardi’s Mass in G and Mass in F for two choirs, eight soloists and double orchestra, as well as the two oratorios Pawlu ta’ Malta and Dun Ġorġ by Charles Camilleri.

The Collegium Musicum honours its service by giving performances of the highest standard. It is a flexible and versatile choir with a repertoire that includes mainly sacred music but can also undertake other works as the need may arise. In fact in March 2000, the choir participated in two operas during the Manoel Theatre Opera Festival, namely Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Antonio Rossini and Tosca by Giacomo Puccini.

The Collegium Musicum is the resident choir of St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, and participates in the main services, including Sunday's High Mass in Latin. The choir also participates in the principal liturgical services which take place at Mdina Cathedral, including the Conversion of St. Paul, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, the feast of the Assumption, Christmas and Holy Week celebrations. In May 2001, the Collegium Musicum sang during the Mass celebrated by the Pope John Paul II on the Floriana granaries during the Papal visit for the beatification of Dun Ġorġ Preca, the cleric Nazju Falzon and Sr. Maria Adeodata Pisani.

As part of the international celebrations held during the year 2001 commemorating the centenary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi, the Collegium Musicum, together with the University Vocal Ensemble and the National Orchestra took part in the Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi.

During February 2002, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Malta International Airport, the Collegium Musicum, the University choir and the National Orchestra directed by Michael Laus performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. During August of the same year, the choir went on tour in the Czech Republic and sang in prominent places together with other renowned Czech choirs. In June 2003, Mozart’s Requiem was performed at the Mediterranean Conference Centre commemorating an anniversary of the Central Bank of Malta.

The Collegium Musicum regularly performs works by Maltese composers and in a most authentic manner. During the year 2003 the choir sang the Messa de Morti a 4 voci by Francesco Azopardi on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution “Sacrosanctum Concilium”.  In November 2004, the Collegium Musicum performed the Requiem of Francesco Azzopardi, and this concert was recorded on CD. The works of two other Maltese composers were performed in October 2004, namely the Messa a Due Cori con Strumenti of Benigno Zerafa as well as the Messa del Vescovo of Paolo Nani. This concert was held at Mdina Cathedral commemorating the centenary of the demise of Benigno Zerafa and Paolo Nani.

As part of the celebrations for Malta’s accession into the European Union in 2004, the Collegium Musicum performed Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Joseph Haydn’s Te Deum together with the Lithuanian National Choir. During this same year the choir also performed Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Franz Schubert’s Stabat Mater during the annual concert for the Holy Week.

In May 2005, in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary from the demise of Fortunato Mizzi, the Collegium Musicum performed the Messa da Requiem of Anton Nani. In December of the same year the choir performed the work of another Maltese composer, Grande Messa (1889) of Paolino Vassallo, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the composer. This performance was also recorded on CD.

In the years 2005 and 2006, the Collegium Musicum had the honour of participating in the final concert of the Annual International Music Festival. In 2005 the choir sang the Missa Octavi Toni of Orlandus Lassus and in 2006 W.A. Mozart’s Coronation Mass was sung during the Sunday Solemn Mass held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

From February 2006 until February 2007, the Collegium Musicum performed Mozart’s Requiem five times at St. John’s Co-Cathedral for groups of German tourists. The choir participated also in the activities of the Notte Bianca held in Valletta on the 14th of October 2006 by performing the Grande Messa (1889) of Paolino Vassallo.

In March 2007, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the European Union, the choir, together with the national orchestra conducted by Michael Laus performed L. V. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. In June of the same year the Collegium Musicum had an active participation in the Liturgical celebrations in occasion of the canonisation of St. Ġorġ Preca. The choir also performed the Oratory Dun Ġorġ! by Charles Camilleri at St. John's Co-Cathedral.

The Collegium Musicum went on a musical exchange programme to North Cyprus from the 26th August till the 3rd September 2007. During this tour it performed Fauré's Requiem and other musical pieces including various spirituals with the Girne Music Education Centre (GMEC) Children's Choir and the Devlet Opera and Ballet Orchestra from Antalja, Turkey in the beautiful setting of the Bellapais Abbey. The cultural exchange was reciprocated by the GMEC choir on the 8th September of the same year whereby the concert was repeated at Mdina Cathedral.

In February 2008, as part of the celebrations of the year dedicated to St. Paul, the choir performed the Oratory “Pawlu ta' Malta” by Charles Camilleri at St. Theresa of Baby Jesus Sanctuary in Birkirkara. During March, as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, the choir went on tour around Italy, singing in various churches including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Lateran Basilica  in Rome, the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi and the Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii in Naples. The choir was also present at the Papal Audience held at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

Among its annual appointments, the Collegium Musicum choir has the honour to perform a Christmas concert which is held at the President’s Palace in Attard. This event is a tradition of over ten years and was initiated by the President Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and continued by the Presidents Guido Demarco and Edward Fenech Adami. One must not forget to mention the well-attended Christmas and Easter concerts held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral every year.