Jazz and wine this weekend

Among the events of the Malta Arts Festival today are Enrico Dindo & Solisti di Pavia in concert at the Palace Courtyard in Valletta, Jazz Fringe at the Argotti Gardens in Floriana and the Marsovin Summer Wine Festival, which is being held throughout the weekend at Hastings Gardens.

After appearing in the past two editions of the festival, Enrico Dindo returns, this time as soloist and conductor, together with the Solisti di Pavia Chamber Ensemble of which he is the music director.

Fringe! Productions is presenting an International Jazz Festival for the second year running, with musicians from Europe and beyond. Jazz Fringe! 08 aims to present this diversity to local audiences, exposing them to the most prominent and current trends of music on the international jazz circuit.

The aim of the first Marsovin Summer Wine Festival is not only to promote Marsovin's wines but also to present a cultural event tied to a Mediterranean theme. The event has a cultural and entertaining concept, presenting professional musicians, string quartets, live bands and tribal music over the weekend.

Hastings Gardens are being split into four sections, each representing a different country: Italy, Malta, Spain and Morocco, hosting their own musicians.

Marsovin has also roped in a quality caterer to offer a variety of traditional food from each country.

Jazz Fringe will be held tomorrow, which is also seeing the second concert of the Contemporary Music Series, Music in Motion, being staged at the Palace Courtyard. Alter Ego Ensemble is performing American contemporary music works.

On Sunday, the Ballet National de Marseille will be performing at the Old Opera House ruins.

Tickets are available from www.maltaticket.com, or Exotique, Agenda, Vodafone, Bookends and Newskiosk outlets.

www.maltaculture.com, www.maltaartsfestival.com