Fringe festival for Mediterranea culture festival

Mediterranea, Gozo's new cultural festival, will have its own fringe festival as from the first edition, which will take place between November 22-29.

The fringe festival, which has been named "MED Fringe 2002" comprises events and activities closely linked to the festival but which are set up by organisations independent of the festival's organising committee.

Fringe festivals, which are normally associated with the world's major festivals, are meant to feature a wider spectrum of arts, and provide a platform for sharing artistic experiences.

Among other events, Mediterranea's fringe festival will feature the world premiere of a video documentary 'Fungus Rock' by Italian reporter Arturo Mingardi, painting and sculpture exhibitions by Rebecca Vella, Nicholette Vella and Paul Stellini, an exhibition of liturgical silver presented by St George's Basilica, a crafts market set up by the Crafts Council of the Gozo Business Chamber, 'Animata' - a marionette show for adults by UK artist Stephen Mottram presented by the British Council - Malta, and 'Swan Lake' by the Ballet Classique de Paris.

MED Fringe 2002 will take off in the week preceding the festival.

Mediterranea also includes Verdi's opera Un Ballo in Maschera, choral and symphonic concerts, among them Verdi's Requiem and Te Deum featuring the legendary tenor Giuseppe Giacomini, and a symphonic band concert by La Stella Band, a piano recital by Young Choon-Park, an evening of prehistory at Ggantija, ethnic music by Etnika and daily morning visits featuring churches, museums, panoramic sights, and Gozo's prehistoric culture organised by Gozo's heritage society Wirt Ghawdex.

The festival is offering a number of attractive package deals for combinations of tickets of different events. More information on these offers can be obtained from the festival help desk on tel. 21 550985.

Mediterranea is being presented by Teatru Astra, together with the Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta and Holiday Malta, and in collaboration with the Ministries for Gozo, Education and Tourism, Maltacom, Bank of Valletta, Central Cigarettes, and Enemalta.

Mediterranea is intended to become an annual cultural landmark for the Maltese Islands, offering a great selection of events for the Astra Theatre's patrons while providing a long-awaited attraction for the island's tourism industry in winter.

To this effect, the festival is being planned well in advance and has been marketed very strongly abroad during the last year. Apart from featuring in the media in various countries, including the UK, Ireland, Italy, and the US, press conferences on this event were held in Munich, Berlin, London, Catania and Palermo. The festival's promotional material has also been published in various languages.

www.mediterranea.com.mt