Nadur celebrations mark Treaty of Rome's 50th anniversary

Nadur Council last Thursday launched a programme of activities, featuring famous Italian singers and groups, under the title Flimkien, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, after having been awarded funds from the European Union.

The project is also intended to inform the public on the role of the European Parliament and the history of the EU.

The main activities will take place next weekend on St Peter and St Paul Square where an information stand and the main stage will be set up. The square will be closed to traffic.

Events on the main stage will include concerts, shows, as well as political and informative debates on the EU. On Friday at 6 p.m., Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, and AD leader Harry Vassallo will take part in a debate on "The future of Europe, the future of Malta". On Sunday, Maltese Members of the European Parliament will hold a round table on "European Parliament meets citizens".

Entertainment on Friday will include performances by Mike Spiteri and the Mike Spiteri Lucas Band. Saturday will see J. Anvil and the Italian group Fuego Italiano, and the well-known Italian group Matia Bazaar will perform at 10.30 p.m.

Matia Bazar was formed in the 1970s in Genoa by Piero Cassano, Aldo Stellita, Carlo Marrale, Giancarlo Golzi and  Antonella Ruggiero (the group's present composition has since changed) and have become one of the most famous Italian bands, winning the 1978 Sanremo Festival with E dirsi ciao and in 2002 with Messaggio d'amore. Some of their famous songs include Solo tu, Ti sento, Vacanze Romane, and Souvenir.

Sunday's programme will see Miriam Christine Borg, Klinsmann Coleiro and his band, and Olivia Lewis, ending with another major attraction - a concert by Italian singer Riccardo Fogli at 8.30 p.m.

Fogli was born in Pontedera, Pisa, and joined the group Pooh in 1966, which was formed that year in Bologna and achieved great success with Piccola Katy in 1968. In 1973, Fogli left the group and went on performing as a solo singer, writing Matteo with Marcello Aitani, Che ne sai, Malinconia (first at the prestigious Verona Festivalbar and at the Vela d'Oro Festival in Riva del Garda), and Storie di tutti i giorni, which won the Sanremo Festival in 1982, benefiting from a number of achievements in the following years.

Fogli has performed in Malta on a number of occasions, this being his fifth time. He is exclusively represented in Malta by M & E Management Group.

Dr Massimo Ellul, chief executive of the group, stated that Fogli was indeed very happy to perform again in Malta, especially after the sell-out concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre last December.

Other activities will take place in the streets and squares in the surrounding areas. A children's area will be set up on April 28, 1688 Square comprising a cinema, performances by children, puppet shows, magicians, stilt walkers, games and more.

Folk music fans will be able to enjoy music and dance performances in the square behind the parish church. The Xaghra Folk Group will kick off the performances on Friday evening with the traditional kumittiva dance and the Nafra folk ensemble are scheduled to play on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Together with the Pure Brass Quintet, Nafra will play a variety of folk music styles. Other participants are the San Lawrenz, Mnarja, Aurora, Menhir Qala, Astra, and Sinet folk groups, Spiro Sillato, Philip Vella, Tony Camilleri (L-Ghannej) and spirtu pront performances.

People enjoying the performances will be able to savour traditional Maltese food available from any of the 16 stalls nearby.

An exhibition of works by artists from villages in various EU member states will be held at the council's new premises, and a video and photographic exhibition on the history of European integration is being put up on St Peter and St Paul Square.

Information stands by the Ministry for Gozo, the European Parliament Representation Office, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa, National Euro Changeover Committee, Solvit (commerce division), EURES, Malta European Commission and the Gozo local councils will also be up in the same square.

Three concerts are being held in St Peter and St Paul basilica. The Gaulitanus Choir, under Mro Colin Attard, will perform sacred music on Friday at 7.30 p.m. Mro Attard will direct an orchestral concert on Saturday at 7.30 p.m., and a 60-strong choir and 55-strong orchestra formed by students attending the American School in London will perform sacred works and excerpts from operas and musicals.

The council is providing a minibus service from Mgarr harbour to Nadur and back at a fee of only 50c to avoid parking problems and control traffic to and from the event.

Entrance to all activities and concerts, including those by international guests, are free of charge.

A monument symbolising the EU, by John Grima, is being inaugurated to commemorate the celebrations as well as the 50th anniversary itself. A limited edition of 1,000 postcards featuring the Ta' Isopu tower will be issued and stamped on Sunday at the Nadur council, with a special cancellation marking the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Nadur council have worked very hard to put up the project and it is through their initiative to obtain funds that we will be able to enjoy the concerts by popular artists such as Matia Bazar and Riccardo Fogli for free. The council managed to obtain 70 per cent of the project's funding from the EU, amounting to €68,000.

Nadur mayor Dr Chris Said told The Sunday Times that "the Maltese and Gozitans have known too well the price of war. Now, as citizens of the European Union we are all invited to celebrate the achievements of peacetime through a weekend of music, political debate, art and food in the main square of Nadur".

Among the items on show in Cicciano Street during the festival are wartime military cars and trucks.

Dr Said stated the council also wanted to have a popular event that would interest the widest range of people.

The Ta' Isopu and Kenuna towers, the shelter beneath Nadur's main square, and the parish church, which will be open to the public for the occasion, are also open today between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Guided tours are being held in the church.