Żejtun is about to become a hive of activity as the Beland Music Festival kicks off on Saturday.
Top local band Winter Moods will open the week-long festival dedicated to culture, music and entertainment.
The festival can be considered as the opening event of the summer activities.
Market Square will take the form of an open-air stage.
Each and every day has a special theme or a particular act assigned to it.
More than 200 artists and musicians will be involved, including Malta’s best singers and bands.
The UK’s number-one Pink Floyd ribute band, Think Floyd, will be rocking the square on Wednesday.
The event is free of charge but those in attendance are encouraged to give a small donation that will go directly to Puttinu Cares.
• For more details and full programme of events visit www.belandevents.com
Visual Arts
Till Saturday
NovoNoveArt
Nine artists (including two sculptors) are exhibiting a total of 90 works in various media by Egeo Baldacchino, Benny Brimmer, Adrienne Cassar, Sue Flask, Alfie Gatt, Ethelbert Perini, Joseph Martin Risiott, Valerio Schembri and Anthony Weitz at Palazzo De La Salle, Republic Street, Valletta. Opening hours: today and tomorrow from 8.30 a.m. to 7p.m., Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Entrance is free.
Till May 15
Calabria Cultural Event
A photographic exhibition featuring Calabrian landscapes by Charles Mifsud is showing at the Italian Cultural Institute, St George’s Square, Valletta.
Till May 16
KMHC
A photo exhibition is being held at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Malta. The subject of this exhibition is the culture of the indigenous nations of the North, Siberia and the Far East Russia.
Till May 20
Victor Agius Open Studio
Victor Agius is showing his new works from the project recently launched at the Sant’ Eufemia Gallery in Venice at The Art Studio in Bishop R. Farrugia Street, Xagħra (close to the Ġgantija Temples). Opening hours: Saturdays 6-8 p.m. and Sundays from 10.30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. or by appointment on 7959 4508
www.victoragius.com
Till May 20
Thresholds
An exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of the British Council in Malta. Artist Paula Rego selected artworks from the British Council collection dating from the start of the 20th century, most of them works on paper, prints, drawings and photographs. Showing at St James Cavalier, Valletta.
Till May 21
The Works of Art 2012
Different to previous editions, the annual collective Works of Art and Antiques Exhibition, which started as a small initiative through Eden Foundation, is taking place at The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Republic Street, Valletta. Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Concerts/Music
Today
Tribute to French composers
Violinist Agnès Pyka and pianist Bruno Robilliard, from the Des Equilibres Ensemble, acclaimed on the scenes of many French and international festivals, will highlight the typically French elegance, virtuosity, clearness and simplicity of the music of Massenet, Poulenc and Debussy. The concert, being held at the Manoel Theatre, starts at 8 p.m.
Saturday
Grandi Operisti Italiani
World renowned soprano Roberta Canzian and baritone Mario Cassi, accompanied by professional pianist Ulla Casalini, will be performing arias and duettos from Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia; Puccini’s La Bohème and Gianni Schicchi; Verdi’s La Traviata and Don Carlo and Donizetti’s La Favorita and Don Pasquale in an operatic concert being presented by Fiesole Artistic Productions in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute at the Manoel Theatre at 7.30 p.m.
Performing Arts
Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday; May 18-20, 25, 27
Ghost Writer
DnA Theatre Productions and FM Productions have banded together to produce David Tristram’s haunting comedy Ghost Writer.
The cast for this comedy thriller consists of Alan Montanaro, Edward Mercieca, Denise Mulholland, Marika Fenech – back on stage after an absence of several years – and Taryn Butler, who makes her debut on the Maltese stage after 20 years of experience in theatre arts in the UK and Stefan Farrugia. The play, directed by Polly March, starts at 8 p.m.
Other
Sunday
Sliema Philharmonic Society anniversary
The Sliema Philharmonic Society will celebrate the 89th anniversary since its foundation day in 1923. The celebration will start at 9.30 a.m. with a celebrative Mass at the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sliema with the participation of the Sliema Band formed mainly of its own young bandsmen and students conducted by assistant bandmaster Lesley Tabone together with the Parish Church’s San Damian Choir.
Tuesday
Chesterton as a Journalist
G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture is holding a public lecture entitled Chesterton As A Journalist at the Erin Serracino Inglott Hall, University of Malta at 6 p.m. The programme will also include a tribute to John Micallef alias Roamer, a journalist who was a dedicated follower of G. K. Chesterton and wrote about him in the Times of Malta.
Wednesday
Richard Ellis – The Man And His Legacy
Flimkien għal Amjent Aħjar is presenting an illustrated talk by Richard Ellis’s grandson, Ian Ellis, at the Hotel Phoenicia. The presentation will be illustrated by photographs from the archive carefully reproduced from the original plates. The lecture starts at 7 p.m.
Bookings may be made by e-mail: bookings@faa.org.mt or by phone on 9982 0159.
Useful contacts
St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org
Manoel Theatre
Tel: 2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt
To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com