2006: cultural highlights

Malta is becoming more events-oriented. This is important for our own sakes and because it provides more value added to our product as a tourist destination.

Last Wednesday, I explained in some detail what will be happening on the night of January 6, when my ministry organises the first event for the new year - Notte Magica: It-Tre Re.

I believe it is appropriate today to look back at the kind of events we have organised over the past 12 months. No list of this nature can be exhaustive, not only because the number of events is increasing exponentially but also because many cultural and artistic events are being organised on the personal and direct initiative of individuals and entities, without necessarily referring to any Government body for support or encouragement.

This confirms my belief that our country is going through a cultural renaissance. We are enjoying a better quality of life where we measure our level of enjoyment and personal satisfaction not only in monetary terms but also in terms of how capable we are to appreciate different visual and performing arts and make them a crucial part of our own enrichment.

Last January, I attended a presentation about an event that then took off in December. I am referring to the Knights Spectacular 1565 staged by MK Leisure. In this production, under the able direction of Salvu Mallia, patrons can watch actors, stuntmen, dancers, horsemen and others give life to different episodes of the Great Siege. Horses go past, swordfights take place next to you in a spectacular happening that is being staged at the old Power Station in Valletta.

The cultural renaissance the country is going through is partly being brought about by making available new structures and spaces that were hitherto unavailable for the arts. Within my own ministry, I made it a point to add the corridors of the Auberge d'Italie as a regular venue for different art exhibitions. At the Manoel Theatre, we roofed over the courtyard to provide additional space for the visual arts. Heritage Malta is providing new spaces for different cultural experiences, offering space to different artists as well as organising events together with different embassies.

This is happening over and above what must be considered the best possible cultural gift to the nation as a whole. St James Cavalier has intelligently blended its historic environs with an interior that can host art exhibitions, cinema d'arte, music sessions and new drama experiences that are utilising to the utmost the intimacy offered by the theatre in the round that was built into one of the water cisterns at St James.

Last January, I launched the book St James Cavalier - Centre for Creativity, Malta, edited by Richard England, the architect who saw to the entire project. The publication offers an in-depth artistic appraisal of the works carried out in this centre to make this cultural dream come true.

In February we had Carnival. It has been organised in Malta since 1535. Bands, triumphal and other floats, grotesque masks, and lavish costumes were the main ingredients in last year's Carnival. Including Paul Curmi, popularly known among his colleagues as King Carnival, in this year's Republic Day Honours proves that Government acknowledges not only this event's folklore and tradition but also its artistic standards as well as the dedication put into it by the different participants who offer their energies, free time and money to ensure that the standard reached each year is up to expectations.

In March, I announced that the Malta International Choir Festival was to team up with Interkultura Foundation and gain in the process from the prestige and professionalism of this organisation. This event was then held between September 9 and 12.

On March 19, I inaugurated a bronze monument to the Maltese tenor Oreste Kirkop, who had passed away in 1998, aged 74. The inauguration took place in the Manoel Theatre courtyard. It is fitting that Malta honours its citizens whose talent has done or is doing our country proud.

In April, we could follow a different kind of opera. When I had visited China early last year, I had expressed two wishes in the cultural field - to have a taste of the Chinese opera, and of the famous Xian warriors in our country. We shall experience the latter next year, and last April 29 we followed a performance of typical Beijing operas at the Manoel. April then closed with the annual Fireworks Festival marking Malta's membership of the European Union.

In May we commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of the composer Paolino Vassallo. An exhibition of memorabilia was held at Sala Isouard at the Manoel Theatre, and later in the year, the National Orchestra performed his Requiem at St John's Co-Cathedral.

During the same month, I addressed Europa Nostra's Cultural Heritage Forum held in Malta on the initiative of Din l-Art Helwa, and with the participation of Prince Henrik of Denmark, who heads Europa Nostra.

The Summer Arts' Festival held at Teatru Rjal between July 28 and August 20 assumed new dimensions. Around 30 events were held and included drama, music, different forms of choreography, recitals, concerts, visual arts as well as entertainment. 'National Orchestra Goes Pop' was moved to form part of this series of events, and other initiatives were taken up by the private sector to complement what was being organised by the ministry.

It was the first concrete signal to indicate that Valletta can come alive even in the evenings and that culture and the arts do generate business. It provided us with the courage and impetus not to allow the Teatru Rjal to revert into a car park even after the festival ended, and to start organising more events in our capital.

In August I visited extensive restoration works carried out at the Manoel Theatre, not least to give a new lease of life to the theatre's magnificent ceiling. With the help of Malta International Airport, we embarked on an ambitious rehabilitation programme that saw to various projects which peeled different layers of the theatre's magnificent history dating to 1732.

By far one of the most pleasant experiences I shall always cherish from 2006 was our first ever Notte Bianca held on the night of October 14. Any first event of this scale is a leap into the dark but we were glad to make it and 78,000 turning up for the event means that the public response was simply gratifying. Come next October there will be further improvements. This is one event to remain part of our national cultural calendar.

The Historic Cities Festival including 'Birgu by Candlelight' and the impressive Military Tattoo complemented Notte Bianca brilliantly and I am grateful to all those who have put in so much time, effort and selfless dedication to ensure the success of such happenings.

Another memorable occasion was Andrea Bocelli's recital on the brilliant initiative of Renaissance Productions. The event took place on December 16 at the newly inaugurated Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, Ta' Qali. Our National Orchestra and soprano Lydia Caruana did us proud. We look forward to similar events in the new year.

Even limiting myself as I have done to events that had a direct link with my ministry, these highlights are not an all-inclusive list. One can mention many other events, ranging from a first exhibition of children's paintings from 191 countries and kicking off in Malta, to countless art exhibitions that I was only too pleased to open.

Add to all that concerts and events such as 'Teatru Unplugged' where we provided support. Add as well what different performing companies have managed to offer us throughout the year - be it experimental drama, fringe theatre at St James, comedy, an array of musicals, National Orchestra treats, the annual Shakespeare do as well as pantomime by MADC, stunning choreographic performances, concerts by different rock bands and by various philharmonic societies that are spread out throughout the country, literary nights - you name it: it was there. It was happening.

Even for an avid theatregoer like myself, one insurmountable problem has become that of being able to cope with all the excellent fare available.

To more of it in the New Year!

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