Coming straight from two successful performances in Austria, the Beltango quintet from Serbia will be accompanying three professional Tango dancers during a unique performance at the Manoel Theatre this weekend.

The performance Colores del Tango is the first of its kind in Malta and has been heralded by tango lovers as the performance of the decade.

The dancers – Josip Bartulovic from Macedonia and Johanna Kulik from Hungary started dancing together in 2000 and they placed fourth in the Tango World Championships of the El Sun Buenos Aires Tango Festival in 2003.

Santiago Maciel from Mexico joined them in 2009, when they launched the Colores del Tango show which has received acclaim wherever they toured with it.

On the other hand, the musicians, the Beltango quintet can boast of participation in practically all relevant tango festivals across Europe, from Italy to Finland, from Greece to Germany, where they gave performances that left audiences mesmerised.

Aleksandar Mikovic plays the bandoneon and the accordion, Ivana Nikolic plays the piano and sings while Jogan Bogosavljevic plays the violin. Bogdan Pejic plays the guitar and Ljubinko Lazic will be on double-bass.

The music is predominantly compositions of Astor Piazzolla, the guru of modern Argentinian tango music and the father of Tango Nuevo.

The performance is in itself a passionate and vibrant piece of choreography that fuses together the artistic capabilities of the dancers with the inimitable sound of the Argentinian tango. The dance pieces are aimed at creating the atmosphere of a Buenos Aires summer night – sensual, hot and flirty.

All this will happen at the Manoel Theatre, with its own charm and magical ambience, on Saturday and Sunday. Performances start at 7.30 p.m.

Visual Arts

Opens tomorrow, till March 24
Emotional Harmonies
An exhibition of works by Rachele Bianchi will be on show at Opus64 Galerie, Tigné Street, Sliema.
www.opus64galerie.com

Opens Saturday, till March 17
Call Your Girlfriend
Matthew Attard Navarro’s first solo exhibition will feature a series of poignant photographs documenting male youth at St James Cavalier.

Opens Sunday, till March 11
Inspirations
An exhibition of works by Darren Spiteri will be on show at the Razzett tal-Markiż Mallia Tabone, Triq Wied il-Għasel, Mosta. Open from Monday to Sunday from 6 till 9 p.m. Sundays also from 10 a.m. till noon.

Till Sunday
Sajda | Black Sea
An exhibition by Nigel Baldacchino and Adrian Abela showing at St James Cavalier’s upper galleries. Conceived from two different perspectives, in two different ways, by two different people and within two different scales of time, the two different exhibitions shall share one, same, space.

Till February 29
Sculptures
Liliana Fleri Soler is showing a series of bronze and mixed-media sculptures at SO Galerie, Dun Karm Street, Iklin.

Till February 29
Portraits of Women
A collection of paintings by Madeleine Gera is currently on show at 134, Angelica Café, Archbishop Street, Valletta.

Till March 4
Plastic Dreams
A photography exhibition by Elisa Von Brockdorff is showing at Lily Agius Gallery. This is her first solo exhibition in which she presents her latest collection of photographs which are cleverly staged. The gallery is open every day except Monday; Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Tuesday to Friday 4-7 p.m.

Till March 20
A Different Perspective
An exhibition of works by John Martin Borg is showing at the Contemporary Hall, The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Free entrance. Open Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.)

Till March 28
Freized… Continued
An exhibition of works by Unni Askeland is showing at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Free entrance. Open Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.)

Till April 29
Metal Magic: Spanish Treasures from the Khalili Collections
A selection of works from the Khalili Collections is showing at the Grand Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology.

Till April 30
A Cross-Section of My Art Life 2
Mary Clare Albanozzo is holding an art exhibition entitled at her studio at 51A, Tigné Street, Sliema. Open every day. For private viewing phone on 2137 1345 /9988 1197 or e-mail clarealbanozzo@gmail.com

Concerts/Music

Tonight
Spotlight On...
Pianist Gabi Sultana will perform contemporary music featuring works by Huber, Moore, Ligeti and Crumb at the Manoel Theatre at 8 p.m.

Tomorrow
Jazz night
Jazz trio CUSP will play their own compositions as well as jazz standards with original arrangements at St James Cavalier at 8 p.m. The performance will stray from traditional sounds and CUSP will work their eclectic choices and influences into a fresh, singular repertoire.

Tomorrow
Sigur Ros – INNI
St James Cavalier presents, for one night only, Sigur Ros’ documentary concert created as their second cinematic venture following 2007’s tour documentary Heima. Whereas that film positioned the group in the context of their Icelandic homeland, providing geographical, social and historical perspectives on their music, Inni focuses purely on the band’s performance and stands as a stark counterpoint to Heima’s kaleidoscopic richness. Screening at 9 p.m.

Performing Arts

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday March 2-4, 9-11
The Female of the Species
Based on a real incident in the life of Germaine Greer, the iconic feminist academic, this deliciously wicked comedy deftly walks the tightrope between satire and farce, proving the female of the species is not only deadlier, but funnier, than the male. Unifaun is staging the performance at St James Cavalier at 8 p.m. Directed by Chiara Hyzler the cast includes Polly March, Maria Buckle, Laura Best, Anthony Ellul, Edward Mercieca and Chris Galea.

Today and tomorrow
Oliver Twist
On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, the Manoel Theatre and American Drama Group Europe (ADGE) are presenting TNT Theatre-Britain in an adaptation of Dickens’ best loved hero, Oliver Twist. The play, directed by Paul Stebbings, presents the facts through Fagin’s eyes. Performances start at 7.30 p.m.

Others

Tonight
ArtsTalk
The next ArtsTalk session explaining the organisation support grant is being held at the Mġarr oratory at 7.30 p.m. This session will provide a platform for prospective applicants to discuss how their organisations can benefit from the Organisation Support Grant (Malta Arts Fund, Strand 2). More information about the Malta Arts Fund, including guidelines and application forms, are available for download from www.maltaculture.com. The next deadline for applications to the organisation support applications is February 28.

Tonight
Baroque Valletta: A 17th century Jesuit Course in Military Architecture at the Collegium Melitense
As part of the monthly series of cultural talks organised by Din l-Art Ħelwa, Dennis De Lucca will be delivering a talk which will focus on the contribution of the Jesuits to the dissemination of ideas on the theory of military architecture in 17th-century Malta. The talk will be delivered in English, at The Judge M. Caruana Curran Hall, Din l-Art Ħelwa, 33, Melita Street Valletta at 6 p.m. Attendance is free of charge.

Tomorrow, Saturday and February 29
Leonardo Live
Experience the UK National Gallery’s sold-out, once-in-a-lifetime exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan at the St James Cavalier cinema in limited screenings. Presented by art historian Tim Marlow and presenter Mariella Frostrup, who will explore the exhibition and feature detailed examinations of the paintings and interviews with special guests and experts.

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