Grand opening for CHOGM meetings

Details of the spectacle, to be held under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth and the Commonwealth Heads of Government, to coincide with CHOGM were given at a press conference.

The event will take place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, on three consecutive nights between November 25 and 27.

The opening 35-minute performance on the Friday will be attended by the Queen, the heads of state, and other delegates. Five-minute speeches will be given by President Obasanjo of Nigeria, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, and Queen Elizabeth.

Performances on the following two days will be open to the public and will be presented in a longer version than that of the opening show.

Salv Stellini, head of the CHOGM task force, said that a budget of Lm50,000 had been allocated to this complex project.

A very modern set-up and state-of-the-art technology will be used to produce a spectacle consisting of an abridged and surrealistic interpretation of different periods of Maltese history. The performance will include music by Philip Vella and Nafra, and dance with choreography by Felix Busuttil.

Jonathan Park, who was responsible for U2's Zoo TV tour and Roger Water's The Wall - Live in Berlin, is the artistic director of the production.

The hall will be modified to have the stage in the middle section at the lowest part of the auditorium, and the seating will be shifted onto the stage where the Queen will be seated on the first night. This section will hold about 50 people.

An innovative feature within the production will be the projection of still and moving images on a water curtain - a screen that can be used with unlimited features using any type of media to produce effects that are out of this world.

Silvio Scerri, member of the board of Welcomevents, said that special effects will complement each other, and new structures are being built within the MCC such as a new stage, two sound systems, lighting systems and mechanisations for water motion of great volumes that will form part of the choreography.

Felix Busuttil said: "There were a number of challenges we had to overcome - to come up with a performance of high standard on an international level, a three-dimensional stage, and a choreography that will serve as a feast for the eyes".

Guest dancer Kledi Kadiù, from the popular Canale 5 show Amici presented by Maria De Filippi and who was in Malta in summer, will also be dancing with the Maltese.

Costume design is by Charles and Ron from Beatrix.

Every performance will take a maximum of 700 people in the audience so a limited number of tickets will be available, however there will be a third performance if there is a demand.

Tickets at Lm12 and Lm27 (on the stage) will go on sale this week.