St John’s Co-Cathedral Welcomes the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae for a Special Evening of Sacred Music
On Saturday, 4 July 2026 at 8:00pm, St John’s Co-Cathedral will proudly welcome the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae of Milan for Cantate Domino Canticum Novum, a concert celebrating the timeless beauty of sacred choral music under the direction of the distinguished Maestro Massimo Palombella.
Hosted within the magnificent setting of St John’s Co-Cathedral, the concert represents a significant cultural and spiritual occasion, bringing together one of Italy’s most exciting sacred music ensembles with one of Malta’s most treasured heritage sites. The performance reflects the Cathedral’s ongoing commitment to presenting artistic excellence while fostering meaningful international cultural exchange.
Established by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae was created to nurture exceptional young musicians and promote the rich tradition of sacred music through rigorous study, research and concert performance. Since 2025, the ensemble has featured prominently in the concert initiatives of the Scuola della Cattedrale, earning recognition for its refined interpretations, particularly of Renaissance repertoire.
Leading the performance is Maestro Massimo Palombella, one of the foremost figures in sacred music today. Widely respected for his distinguished career, he served as Maestro Director of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir from 2010 to 2019, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and reconfirmed by Pope Francis. His work has received international acclaim, including the prestigious 2016 Echo Klassik Award for Cantate Domino. La Cappella Sistina e la musica dei Papi. Today, as Superintendent of the Musical Heritage of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano and Maestro Director of the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae, he continues to shape the future of sacred choral music through artistic excellence and education.
St John’s Co-Cathedral is honoured to welcome both Maestro Palombella and the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae to Malta for what promises to be an inspiring evening of music, reflection and shared cultural heritage. Their visit strengthens the enduring bonds between two historic centres of faith, art and music, offering audiences the opportunity to experience performances of exceptional quality within one of Europe’s most remarkable Baroque cathedrals.
The concert’s title, Cantate Domino Canticum Novum – ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’ – beautifully encapsulates the spirit of the evening: a celebration of sacred music that continues to inspire contemporary audiences while remaining deeply rooted in centuries of tradition.
St John’s Co-Cathedral extends its sincere gratitude to the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae, Maestro Massimo Palombella and the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano for making this special collaboration possible. The Cathedral looks forward to welcoming audiences to what promises to be a memorable and uplifting musical experience.
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Il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann Jilqa’ l-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae għal Serata Speċjali ta’ Mużika Sagra
Nhar is-Sibt, 4 ta’ Lulju 2026 fit-8:00pm, il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann kburi jilqa’ l-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae ta’ Milan għal Cantate Domino Canticum Novum, kunċert li jiċċelebra s-sbuħija eterna tal-mużika korali sagra taħt id-direzzjoni tal-Maestru Massimo Palombella.
Imtella’ fl-ambjent rikk tal-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann, il-kunċert jirrappreżenta okkażjoni sinifikanti kulturali u spiritwali, li tgħaqqad flimkien wieħed l- mużika sagra ma’ wieħed mill-aktar siti ta’ wirt pretiġjużi ta’ Malta. Din il-prestazzjoni tirrifletti l-impenn kontinwu tal-Konkatidral li tippreżenta l-eċċellenza artistika filwaqt li trawwem skambju internazzjonali.
Imwaqqfa mill-Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, l-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae nħolqot biex trawwem mużiċisti żgħażagħ u tippromwovi t-tradizzjoni rikka tal-mużika sagra permezz ta’ studju rigoruż, riċerka u kunċerti. Mill-2025, l-ensemble deher b’mod prominenti f’kunċerti tal-Scuola della Cattedrale, u kiseb rikonoxximent għall-interpretazzjonijiet raffinati tiegħu, partikolarment tar-repertorju tar-Rinaxximent.
Imexxi dan il-kor, il-Maestro Massimo Palombella – wieħed mill-figuri ewlenin fil-mużika sagra llum. Rispettat ħafna għall-karriera distinta tiegħu, serva bħala Direttur Maestro tal-Kor Pontifiċju tal-Kappella Sistina mill-2010 sal-2019, maħtur mill-Papa Benedittu XVI u kkonfermat mill-ġdid mill-Papa Franġisku. Ix-xogħol tiegħu rċieva tifħir internazzjonali, inkluż il-Premju Echo Klassik tal-2016 għall-Cantate Domino ‘La Cappella Sistina e la musica dei Papi’. Illum, bħala Sovrintendent tal-Wirt Mużikali tal-Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano u Direttur Maestro tal-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae, huwa jkompli jsawwar il-futur tal-mużika korali sagra permezz tal-eċċellenza artistika u l-edukazzjoni.
Il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann huwa onorat li jilqa’ kemm lill-Maestro Palombella kif ukoll lill-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae f’Malta għal dak li jwiegħed li ħa tkun lejla ta’ ispirazzjoni, ta’ mużika, riflessjoni u wirt kulturali kondiviż. Iż-żjara tagħhom issaħħaħ ir-rabtiet dejjiema bejn żewġ ċentri storiċi ta’ fidi, arti u mużika, u toffri lill-udjenzi l-opportunità li jesperjenzaw wirjiet ta’ kwalità eċċezzjonali f’wieħed mill-aktar katidrali Barokki notevoli tal-Ewropa.
It-titlu tal-kunċert, Cantate Domino Canticum Novum – ‘Għannu lill-Mulej Għanja Ġdida’ – jiġbor b’mod sabiħ l-ispirtu tal-lejla: ċelebrazzjoni ta’ mużika sagra li tkompli tispira lill-udjenzi kontemporanji filwaqt li tibqa’ msejsa sew f’sekli ta’ tradizzjoni.
Il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann jestendi l-gratitudni sinċiera tiegħu lill-Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae, lill-Maestro Massimo Palombella u lill-Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano talli għamlu din il-kollaborazzjoni speċjali possibbli. Il-Konkatidral jistenna bil-ħerqa li jilqa’ lill-udjenzi għal dak li jwiegħed li jkun esperjenza mużikali memorabbli.