Our love affair with Gozo started more than 35 years ago. During that time we have been made aware of the vast reservoir of musical talent that exists here. This surfaces particularly at festival time with singing, dancing and joyous brass bands.

In England, my husband Brian and I have been involved with choral singing for over half a century. However, we had never thought of joining a group here.

After a particularly good dinner, our friend Vicki suggested that, given the appropriate permission, we accompany her to the next rehearsal of Chorus Urbanus.

Bravely and naively we presented ourselves to John Galea who kindly welcomed us. We were shown where to put ourselves and we were off.

At the first chord, the relaxed and chattering group was transformed into a disciplined and dynamic choir, singing with aplomb and skill of long practice. Brian and I found ourselves singing with a splendid choir of fine reputation and pedigree. While it would appear self-evident that the success of any choir relies on strengths in all four voices, soprano, alto, tenor and bass, in practice there is often a weak wing. Chorus Urbanus has no such weakness and all four parts are represented by strong, true voices. Moreover, unlike any other choir we have known, this choir has the talent to provide soloists of the highest order from within its own ranks.

Noel Galea is a rich and mellow bass, Yvonne Galea a strong, soaring soprano, Mario Portelli a fine pure tenor while Antonella Mercieca provides a sonorous, golden contralto.

John Galea is inspirational and with him the choir has sung at the Vatican in the presence of the late Pope John Paul II. It has answered invitations to perform in England, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria and Greece.

In the last few weeks Chorus Urbanus has been perfecting John Galea's music for the fine oratorio Il-Qalb ta'Kristu, The Heart of Christ. It was premiered at the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Fontana, on June 10 and repeated on June 12 in the presence of Mgr Anton Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo, who wrote the libretto.

Mr Galea is a musical talent, an all-round musician whose reputation goes far beyond these islands. To be on the receiving end of his conducting has been a revelation and we have seldom felt we were in such safe hands.

The Galea family give John tremendous support, his father Anton acting as librarian and keeping a steady hand on the organisation. Mary his mother, wife Yvonne and daughters are all choir members or soloists. Singing in Maltese has added a certain je ne sais quoi to our musical lives and that phrase describes it accurately!

Nonetheless, the whole experience of being allowed to sing with Chorus Urbanus has been outstanding and we are truly grateful. This time in Gozo has been indeed a sea change from our usual Gozitan idyll. Brian and I return to England next week to rest up before our next Gozo holiday in September.

HILARY BILLIMORE,

Eastonwinchester,

Harts, UK.