New premises: new start

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is shifting its operations to the Robert Samut Hall in Floriana. Besides valuable rehearsal space, this well-deserved new home will provide the orchestra with a concert hall which is particularly suited to the performance of Baroque and classical music.

To mark and celebrate this milestone, the MPO is presenting a concert of works by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Monn. The programme is being presented over two consecutive nights, yesterday and tonight.

The concert will start with J.S. Bach’s first Orchestral Suite. The seven movements comprising this suite reveal the composer at his most appealing, marrying Bach’s contrapuntal rigour with the elegance and captivating rhythms of French Baroque dances.

Orchestra leader Marcelline Agius and Nadia Debono will be the soloists in Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in C Minor for 2 violins and strings. This attractive work displays many of Vivaldi’s stylistic traits, with the two solo violins weaving a filigree of poignant melodies.

George Frederic Handel completes the trio of Baroque giants featured in this concert. Composed in 1749 to accompany a fireworks show in London’s Green Park, this celebratory work has since been among the best known and loved of Handel’s works.

The evening will also include a relative rarity – the Concerto in G Minor for cello and strings by Austrian composer Georg Matthias Monn (1717 – 1750). Monn’s compositions, including this concerto, reflect the concerns of the so-called pre-Classical composers, who were leaving behind them the forms and sounds of the Baroque in favour of the “new” Classical style which would reach its heights with the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The soloist in this work will be MPO cellist Angelica Galea.

Tonight’s concert is free of charge and open to the public; patrons are however asked to present an invitation at the door. These invitations may be obtained, on a first come first served basis, from the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra offices at 88, Old Mint Street, Valletta between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Visual Arts

Till January 29

MADC: 100 Years of Theatre

An exhibition forming part of MADC’s centenary celebrations is on show at the Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.

Till January 30

Exhibition of models and miniatures

The Mosta Philantropic Society Talent Mosti has put up an exhibition featuring models and miniatures of cars and military vehicles, aeroplanes and warships. The exhibition is being held at the Razzett tal-Markiż Mallia Tabone, Wied il-Għasel Street, Mosta. It is open daily between 10 a.m. and noon and again between 5.30 and 8.30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m.

Till February 7

La Utopia Transgresora +pic

Spanish female photographer Ouka Leele whose art career dates back to the late 1970s, ranks among the landmark figures of Europe. An exhibition presented in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy on the occasion of the EU Presidency is showing in the Main Hall of St James Cavalier, Valletta.

Till February 7

A New Generation

A mixed media exhibition curated by the Malta Contemporary Art features cutting-edge works of art by 10 emerging Maltese artists, who provide a glimpse into themes and ideas that young artists are dealing with today. Showing at the upper gallery, St James Cavalier, Valletta.

Till February 21

ERDF Ġgantija design contest

The proposals submitted for the Ġgantija design contest are currently on show at the Heritage Malta Head Office, Valletta. Open from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (Last admission at 4 p.m.)

Till February 28

Paintings by Marc Penninc de Landas

A mixed media exhibition featuring the works by Marc Penninc de Landas is showing at Contemporary Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Open Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Last admission at 4.30 p.m.)

Performing Arts

Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday

Woman in Mind

This play by Alan Ayckbourn will be performed by Maleth at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta. Shows start at 7.30 p.m.

Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday

January 29-31, February 5-7

Sex Comedies

A play by Iain Heggie. Produced by Unifaun Theatre production and directed by Denise Mulholland, the cast includes Polly March, Edward Mercieca, Paul Portelli, Malcolm Galea and Mikhail Basmadjian performing at St James Cavalier, Valletta. Shows start at 8 p.m.

January 29 -31

A View From the Bridge

The Manoel Theatre, in collaboration with the Drama Centre and the American Centre, present Arthur Miller’s classical drama directed by Albert Marshall. The cast includes Manoel Cauchi, Ninette Micallef, Chris X. Grech and Anthony Ellul. Performances at the Manoel Theatre start at 8 p.m.

Music/Concerts

Tonight

Harp recital

Caroline Muscat will be performing on the harp at the Manoel Theatre’s Sala Isouard at 8 p.m.

Tomorrow

Met Opera Season

Presenting Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss in an Encore Performance. The Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series live in high definition with English subtitles is showing at St James Cavalier, Valletta. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. Curtain up at 7 p.m.

Sunday

Met Opera Matinee

The Aida by Giuseppe Verdi will be showing at St James Cavalier, Valletta at 2.45 p.m.

January 27

Performers’ platform concert s

Produced by St James Cavalier, this concert will feature Michela Galea on piano. The programme includes works by Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. The concert will take place at the Music Room, St James Cavalier, Valletta at 12.35 p.m.

Talks, tours and other

Sunday

Cultural Tour +pic

The next in the series of cultural tours organised by The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will visit the newly-restored Villa Francia in Lija, the Carmelite Museum and Convent in Mdina and Palazzo Stagno in Qormi. The tour will also visit the National Centre for Research and Development in Għammieri and the Australian Bungalow that was used to train Maltese nationals in construction techniques prior to their immigration to Australia.

This tour is the third in a series of much-awaited monthly cultural tours. The meeting places for the cultural tour are: Floriana (next to the Independence monument) and Sliema (opposite the Nazzarene Church) at 8.45 a.m. The guided tour in English will depart from Sliema.

For further information please contact Noel D’Amato or Adrian German on 2123 2515 or send an e-mail to noel.damato@maltaculture.com.

Today and Tomorrow

Calabria meets Malta: The Sila National Park, Green Heart of the Mediterranean +pic

A unique event spanning three days is being organised with the collaboration of the Italian Embassy in Malta, the Federation of Associated Travel and Tourism Agents of Malta and the Italian-Maltese Chamber of Commerce. Calabria meets Malta: The Sila National Park, Green Heart of the Mediterranean, kicked off yesterday and will proceed today and tomorrow.

Malta will host – at the head office of the Stock Exchange in Valletta – a big showcase dedicated to the Sila National Park, one of the most beautiful Italian examples of environmental protection. Operators from the Sila will be able to demonstrate their work in the field of winter tourism and wine and gastronomy tourism in the Silan mountains.

This project is meant to seal the long-lasting relationship between Calabria and Malta, and aims to promote and divulge in Malta the quality and competitiveness of the Calabrian mountains, whose maximum expression is symbolised by the Sila national park.

Representatives of handicrafts and wine and gastronomy, working within the Sila national park will display their products throughout the event, which starts at 6 p.m.