The arts reaching out far and wide

The Malta Arts Festival 2010 kicked off to a grand start on Thursday evening.

Already in its fifth edition, the festival's inaugural event was a free concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre delivered by world famous conductor Wayne Marshall and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concert, which featured music by Gershwin and Bernstein, was fully booked well in advance. Despite this, a great many people who had not made it in time to secure one of the 1,400 seats in the MCC's main auditorium, tempted fate by showing up at the venue and queuing in the possibility, and hopes, of some cancellation.

The opening concert was just the first of a string of events which the organisers of the Malta Arts Festival are presenting to the public free of charge in "an effort to reach the widest possible audiences".

The packed festival programme proceeds tonight with a modern mystery play by the Laboratorio di Castaldo Theatre Ensemble titled Katharsis - De Cura Animae Suae showing at the Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street Valletta. Admission is free of charge.

Other events being presented to the public for free include the dance show Sans performed by La Compagnie du Soltaire at MITP Theatre on July 6; The Poet Speaks - Songs and Duets of Schumann and Chopin showing at the Auberge de Castille Courtyard on July 9, and a concert by The New Choral Singers on July 18 at the President's Palace Courtyard, all in Valletta.

And for those looking for an alternative option this weekend, the Strada Wine and Arts Festival in Strait and South Streets, Valletta is on from 7 p.m. onwards tonight and tomorrow and The Hulda Festival: A Journey of Art and Science is open for viewing daily till July 13 at the Grand Harbour Marina in Vittoriosa.

Tickets can be booked online from www.maltaticket.com. More information available from www.maltaartsfestival.com