Been there... Seen that...

As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the concert Sketches from Home was billed as a magical concert. The fusion of the three very different musicians - Renzo Spiteri on percussion, Guo Yue on Chinese flutes and Ben Murray on piano and accordion - provided just that. Based mostly on compositions created during their one-week stay in Malta, the concert provided a mélange of contemporary world music.

Some of the solos coming out of Yue's white jade flute made me feel very lucky to be hearing a world-class musician playing one of the most haunting instruments today. Ben Murray, a young and talented artist who is not just an accomplished pianist but has a wonderful rich voice, provided catchy memorable melodies. Renzo created some amazing sounds from his wide spread of percussion instruments. What was a very enjoyable element to the evening was the laid-back and friendly approach to their playing and introductions of their often passionate tunes.

Onto music of a different kind. I managed to get to Seville in Spain for the famous Semana Santa which I had always thought was just an over- hyped up event. Luckily, some local friends explained all the tradition behind the staging of these wonderfully ornate and truly touching processions. As I was squeezed together with another million spectators in the dark streets, I was enthralled by the grandeur, the staging and the attention to detail which go into making this Easter tradition a feast for both locals and tourists. I was particularly moved during one procession when the deadly silence was broken by the gritty voice of a middle-aged woman up in a balcony performing an impromptu flamenco song, known as a saeta (an arrow), in honour of the Madonna. Most of the processions (which go on for 12 hours) include brass bands, which are really tight and well-rehearsed. The music they play is quite different to what we're used to in Maltese Holy Week. Somehow they sounded happier. I never thought I would so love procession band music. And, of course, in keeping with the rhythmic tradition of Andalucia, both the Madonna and Jesus on the cross are made to 'dance' to the music as they make their way through impossible-to-manoeuvre narrow roads. Sheer madness, but a sure feast for the senses.

Landing back in Malta, I went straight to watch a play. I didn't know what to expect from Minn Wara ż-Żipp. I guess I was intrigued as to why Unifaun, earning a reputation for unconventional plays, would want to put on such a play.

Vagina Monologues it ain't, but through various sketches it takes the audience on a journey of the different lives of a penis. This was not a poignant piece, apart from a short sequence, but it was raw and very, very funny, and the Maltese language flowed really nicely. All three actors excelled in this theatre genre, changing characters (or penises?) with great ease, but Snits takes the biscuit - he just got funnier as the show went on.

He's a master of comic movement - his imitation of Michael Jackson had me desperately reaching out for my inhaler. And judging by the packed audience everyone, or almost everyone, had a whale of a time. Now if only the Manoel or other venues would pack them in for other stuff - wouldn't that just be wonderful.