Music lovers would have noticed that this year we went out of our way to provide Maltese and foreign enthusiasts alike with an incredible mix of different musical events. This country deserves to become more events-oriented. On Friday night, I had the pleasure to follow the highlight of this year's Summer Festival that is being organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts within my Ministry.
That was a concert version of Leonard Bernstein's musical/opera Candide. The event took place at the newly finished Valletta Waterfront - itself another milestone in our determination to rehabilitate and put to excellent use some of our country's outstanding jewels.
When we talk of using culture and the arts to bring over to Malta more visitors, we are not only talking of a growing niche - that of cultural tourism that already attracts to our shores around 200,000 visitors per year - but we are also talking of giving Malta a vibrant and moving image that equally appeals to other visitors who are only too glad to learn that Malta is not only about sun, sand and sea, nor is only about prehistory and many layers that together provide a unique and rich historical texture; it is also about spoiling you for choice about which events one can attend and enjoy not only in winter but also right through summer.
The whole scope behind organising a well planned Summer Festival is just that and the mission is being accomplished. Last Friday's event was a first-time production in Malta with a superb cast including Maltese singers Juan Gambina in the title role of Candide, mezzo soprano Claire Massa as the Old Woman and Rosabelle Bianchi as Paquette. Charles Vincenti, Kevin Caruana and James Vella Bondin played multiple roles.
They did us proud as they joined Kurt Ollmann who interpreted Pangloss, Voltaire and Martin providing us with an impeccable and high entertaining narration, Carla Huhtanen who did Cunegonde and Christopher Holloway who did Maximillian and the Captain. It was a truly unforgettable experience.
Two Italian percussionists, who form part of the well-known ensemble Ars Ludi, who gave a separate brilliant performance at Valletta Waterfront last night, joined our delightful National Orchestra conducted by Michael Laus.
The Voices Choir led by Martina Caruana also gave this production a unique touch. Candide was produced by Mario Frendo and Davinia Galea for Fondation de Malte in collaboration with Voices and the National Orchestra.
Another event we can look forward to is the new opera Elisabeth: Or to be a Mann, composed by Fr Peter Serracino Inglott and Professor Charles Camilleri.
One more happening to which I have been only too pleased and honoured to extend my full support is this year's 8th edition of the Victoria International Arts Festival consisting of a whole month of high-powered music making. No fewer than 21 concerts were held in the space of four weeks, bringing together 114 performers from eight European countries.
This year's schedule was replete with striking and exciting innovations, and seeing the welcome return of brilliant performers who fell in love with Gozo, is set to be a significant milestone in the local cultural scene.
This is due to the ever-widening network of professional contacts and bonds of personal friendships forged between the festival's artistic director Professor Joseph Vella and world class musicians. Indeed, musicians hailing from various prestigious institutions are urging the organisers to book them for future editions of the festival.
A breakthrough this year was the fact that the National Music Competition of Norway inserted a concert during the Victoria International Arts Festival for the winning ensemble. The last concert of this year's festival features world famous pianist Michelangelo Carbonara. The concert takes place tomorrow evening at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia at St George's Basilica in Victoria. It will offer a brilliant and prestigious grand finale to a well organised and successful festival.
I am a firm believer that through music we are managing to enhance our quality of life as well as the experience that we extend to all those who visit us. It is very much part of what makes us Maltese, considering how throughout the years philharmonic societies brought music close to the people.
Different entities work hard at achieving the kind of success achieved by the Victoria Arts Festival, and last Friday's event proves yet again that the National Orchestra has become an institution that does us all proud.
What my Ministry is now working on is the setting up of a National Academy of Music.
The mission of the Academy of Music is to develop excellence in music performance and understanding, creating a platform for current and future artists; to stimulate society by increasing appreciation and knowledge, as well as encourage participation in music while increasing opportunities for Maltese citizens to take up careers in the music profession and promoting lifelong education.
The academy should serve current musicians, including those playing in the National Orchestra, to further develop their talent in the professional teaching of music, while attracting young musicians to follow a course in music performance.
The academy should provide tuition for all forms of music. Research on different forms of music should also be carried out and will be incorporated in the curriculum. The curriculum will also encourage creativity.
The academy will also strive to increase the standards of musicians playing in village bands by ensuring that teachers have the adequate standards and qualifications. Malta's geographical position, a small archipelago influenced by the cultures and traditions of three different continents, encourages the idea of reinforcing our country as a bridge between different and contrasting cultures (unity in diversity) while helping in strengthening the building of a local identity.
In view of all that, the academy will establish itself as a centre for excellence, focusing on Mediterranean music and working to give it an international dimension. This should also be integrated into Malta's position within the wider role played by the country as a Mediterranean member state of the European Union.
Part of the academy's role will be to stimulate society towards further appreciation and knowledge of music. This could be done by a) constantly providing higher standards of music performances on a national level; b) assisting primary and secondary schools to develop music appreciation and music learning among their students; and c) creating intersections between artists and the local community to increase awareness of the art of music among the local population.
The academy should also have a communication role, promoting attendance for music performances while encouraging young and new artists to participate in music activities and to follow courses at the academy to improve their talent.
It is crucial that the academy tackle in a holistic manner the potential to communicate to society at large by making full use of existing media. This includes effective and significant presence on broadcasting media, including concerts on local TV channels, radio, and other media.
The academy would also develop a strategy for the creation of job opportunities for artists in the music industry, and in particular for artists who would have followed courses at the academy.
The academy will also take a 'regulatory' role with regard to standards of music teaching at a national level, to ensure the existing widespread interest in private music lessons (especially piano, violin and brass instruments teaching) is strengthened and a minimum quality standard is guaranteed.
Teaching should be performance-oriented so that students could further develop their talent at the academy. The academy will provide for further development in this area and will see to the improvement of quality in music performance by encouraging a shift from examination-oriented music instruction to a more versatile music teaching approach.
There is much we can and shall achieve by saying it through music. We're well on the right track and will make sure to move much further ahead.
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