The performance at the Tritons fountain during Saturday’s Valletta 2018 celebration has come under fire, with many Times of Malta readers and others on social media pointing out that it had already been on show elsewhere.

The show at the Tritons Fountain Square, featuring pieces by La Fura dels Baus, had appeared in performances in Amsterdam, Uruguay, Budapest and Santiago.

Amsterdam’s Turn on the Lights event in 2014 featured suspended acrobats alongside a giant humanoid figure walking through Dam Square. That event bore a striking resemblance to the spectacle in the Tritons Square on Saturday night.

Readers further noted that the lights in Republic Street had also been used in Palazzolo, Matera, and most recently in Alberobello in Italy.

The inauguration of Valletta 2018 as a European Capital of Culture was meant to highlight creativity in Maltese culture, others pointed out.

But artistic director Mario Philip Azzopardi said that the performances should be assessed in light of the “experience” offered to the public.

Mr Azzopardi also said that the Le Fura dels Baus team had performed in Chinese National Youth Games and that the “world-renowned” performers had created one of four equally great shows.

He also pointed out that three of the four performances across Valletta were all original and Maltese-driven.

Some 99 per cent of the events throughout the year-long Valletta 2018 would be directed by Maltese, he said.

We used an existing, world-class show and adapted it to the Maltese context.- Artistic director

The concept of taking La Fura dels Baus’s performance and aligning it with the inauguration of the Tritons Square was also original, he noted. “We used an existing, world-class show and adapted it to the Maltese context.”

Questions sent to V18 chairman Jason Micallef remained unanswered.

The inauguration of the Valletta 2018 festivities attracted around 110,000 revellers to the capital.

Describing it as “the biggest artistic spectacle that Malta has ever seen”, the Culture Ministry said the launch had drawn praise from locals and foreigners alike.

WATCH: What do you think of Valletta 2018?

The launch took place across four squares and saw 1,000 artists and 450 production team members come together.

The inauguration went on until 11pm, with an after-party, Tempo, by DJ Tenishia and the Maltese Philharmonic Orchestra entertaining the crowd in St George’s Square.

Art director Mario Philip Azzopardi pointed out three of the four performances across Valletta were original and Maltese-driven.Art director Mario Philip Azzopardi pointed out three of the four performances across Valletta were original and Maltese-driven.

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