MYMAC #1

PAGE 26

Malta’s First Ice Show

Jesters’ Wedding

PAGE 40

MCC Virtual Museum

MCC CEO

Pierre Fenech

PAGE 42

Arts Council Malta’s

future plans

Mary Ann Cauchi

#1 • DECEMBER • 2019

MYMAC.ORG.MT

MUSIC•ARTS•CULTURE

PAGE 10

MPO Moscow Tour

A Union of Cultures

FEATURING ORGANISATIONS

CONTENTS

#1 • 2019

MyMAC MAGAZINE

MUSIC • ARTS • CULTURE

2. ......... What’s on

November 2019 – December 2019

8 ......... Il-Premju Għall-Arti 2019

12 ........ A Union of Cultures

MPO Moscow Tour

14. ....... Moscow has some of world’s

warmest audiences!

Joseph Calleja

16. ....... Moscow is a special city for me...

Shlomo Mintz

18. ....... You can hear Malta

in Alexey Shor’s music...

Ray Chen

20 ....... Music expresses emotions

when words aren’t enough...

Alessandro Taverna

23........ Not Just Noise!

Maltese Film on Sette Giugno

28 ....... Malta’s First Ice Show

Jesters’ Wedding

32. ....... Days of Maltese Music

In Armenia, Kazakhstan and Russia

33. ....... The true purpose of music

is to unite people

Alan Chircop

34. ...... I’ve been so looking forward

to going to Armenia!

Carmine Lauri

35. ....... The Maltese and Armenians

adore music

Reggie Clews

36. ....... The audiences liked the folklore

of Malta

Roderick Bugeja

37. ....... Performing in those countries

where we have no other language

in common save for the language

of music

Bernice Sammut Attard

38 ....... This is certainly a very important

stage in the history of Russia-Malta

relations!

Alexei Galea Cavallazzi

39. ....... Maltese musicians being cultural

ambassadors for their nation and to

promote Maltese culture abroad

Godfrey Mifsud

40....... MCC Virtual Museum

Pierre Fenech

44....... Arts Council Malta’s future plans

Mary Ann Cauchi

MYMAC.ORG.MT

PUBLISHER

European Foundation

for Support of Culture

CONTRIBUTORS

Arts Council Malta

Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

Mediterranean Conference Centre

TO FEATURE ON MYMAC MAGAZINE

For advertising opportunities and

listings, get in touch with us on

adv@mymac.org.mt

For further information contact us on

info@mymac.org.mt

The publisher, authors and

contributors reserve their rights with

regards to copyright. No part of this

magazine may be reproduced or

copied by any means without the

written consent of the publisher.

Printed in Malta by Best Print Co Ltd

PUBLISHER DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMERCIAL AND ADVERTISING CONTENT.

EDITOR’S WELCOME

#1 • 2019

8

WELCOME TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF MYMAC MAGAZINE!

On behalf of all the editorial team, it is my pleasure to

present this first issue of MyMAC Magazine, which, as

the name suggests, is a publication which focuses on

music, arts and culture.

10

MyMAC magazine will include reviews and news about

past and current events, which are taking place both

locally and abroad, involving Maltese artists abroad or

foreign collaborations in Malta. The main focus will be

the internationalisation aspect within the music, arts and

cultural sphere.

21

26

Thus it was very natural for us to seek partnership and

collaboration with the major and prominent institutions

with whom we collaborate and produce events or projects

in Malta. We are very grateful that the Arts Council Malta,

the Malta Philharmonic and the Mediterranean Conference

Centre have accepted to collaborate with us in producing

MyMac Magazine. In fact, the publication will incorporate

several pages and sections dedicated to our partners, as

we deem very fit to promote the sterling work which they

are doing within the sector.

Our ultimate aim is to deliver an informative message to a

broader public and thus creating more awareness, which

we hope could be translated into more interest in the

initiatives, activities, events and projects of the European

Foundation for Support of Culture, the Arts Council, the

Malta Philharmonic and the Mediterranean Conference

Centre, together with other events taking place in Malta

and abroad – which we deem of interest for you.

44

I trust that you will enjoy reading this first issue, while I take

this opportunity to thank all the team of contributors and

artists who accepted to feature in MyMAC Magazine.

May I also take this opportunity to wish all our readers and

their loved ones – a very peaceful and merry Christmas,

and a very happy and healthy New Year!

Best wishes,

40

Mro Alan Chircop

2 WHATS’ ON • MALTA

1 ST DECEMBER

VILLA FRERE OPEN DAY

VILLA FRERE

The gardens will be open next for the public on Sunday 1 th

December from 9:30 am to 17:00. There will be a tour in English

at 11:00 am and one in Maltese at 15:00. Entrance will be by a

5 euro donation at the door. We will also have refreshments,

books and plants for sale. All proceeds will go for the upkeep

of the gardens and ongoing restoration projects. Entrance is

through the gates of St. Luke’s hospital then follow the signs.

5 TH DECEMBER TO – 9 TH DECEMBER 2019

THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL

CHRISTMAS CHOIR FESTIVAL 2019

The Malta International Christmas Choir Festival will be held

between the 5 th and 9 th December 2019 in various locations

around the Maltese Islands. Various choirs will participate

in this festival, ranging from male, female, youth, gospel to

folk choirs.

1 ST DECEMBER TO 27 TH DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

AT VALLETTA WATERFRONT

VALLETTA

As from 1 st December 2019, Valletta Waterfront will take on

a Christmas Village feel with a mix of décor, music, food

and activities related to this magical time. Free activities are

planned underneath the 35-foot Christmas tree and along the

promenade including bands, choirs, cribs and more. Santa

can be found in his workshop and together with his helpers

will be available for photos. Little guests can enjoy balloon

modelling, face painting, crafts, games, colouring-ins, meet

& greets with favourite characters, puppet shows, bouncy

castles and season’s specials.

5 TH DECEMBER TO 19 TH DECEMBER 2019

XEBGĦA NIES 2 – THE HUMAN CLAY

ART GALLERIES, PALAZZO DE LA SALLE, VALLETTA

This is the second collective exhibition for a group of

established artists who share a predisposition to draw, sculpt

and paint the human figure. The participating artists include

Paul Scerri, Debbie Caruana Dingli, Kenneth Zammit Tabona,

Steve Bonello, Francesca Balzan, Saviour Baldacchino, Marisa

Attard and Andrew Diacono. The group is linked by friendship

and past collaboration and remains committed to looking at

people as an inspiration for their work.

www.artsmalta.org/events

6 TH DECEMBER TO 8 TH OF DECEMBER,

CHRISTMAS SEASON

IN FORT ST ANGELO

Between the 6 th and the 8 th of December, Fort St Angelo

will be transformed into a unique Christmas village! Apart

from Christmas-related food and drinks, Christmas-themed

WHATS’ ON • MALTA

#1 • 2019

workshops and activities will be taking place throughout the

three days, including Christmas-themed guided tours of the

site and also the opportunity to purchase artisans gifts for

loved ones from the numerous stalls available.

OPENING HOURS:

• Friday 6 th December – from 17.00 till 23.00hrs

(last admission at 22.30hrs)

• Saturday 7 th December – from 09.00 till 23.00hrs

(last admission 22.30hrs)

• Sunday 8 th December – from 09.00 to 20.00hrs

(last admission 19.30hrs)

Musical worldwide compositions include Strauss, Abba, Franz

von Suppe and Blues Brothers, among others. Local Singer

Ms Martina Galea Loffreda , Tenor Mr Bernard Busuttil and

Stagecoach Choir will be complimenting the Band. They will

be under the direction of Musical Director Mr Etienne’ Spiteri,

whose composition Norvegicus will be premiered during this

year’s annual concert.

7 TH DECEMBER 2019 TO 5 TH JANUARY, 2020

EXHIBITION OF THE CRIB

FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

PALAZZO FERRERIA, REPUBLIC STREET, VALLETTA

The exhibition of the Crib Friends Association will be at

Palazzo Ferreria, in Republic Street, Valletta from Saturday 7 th

December 2019 to Sunday 5 th January, 2020. It will be open

every day between 09.30 hrs to 19.00 hrs. Entrance is free of

charge.

11 TH DECEMBER – 15 TH DECEMBER

NATALIS NOTABILIS 2019

RABAT

Malta’s very own Christmas Village is back for the 4 th time

running! A 5-day event that will transform Rabat’s historic

core into a Christmas wonderland. Numerous stalls will form

Malta’s largest Christmas Market, while historic buildings will

be hosting various Christmas-related activities, such as, the

Nativity Trail within the Franciscan Friary’s Secret Garden and

the Natalis Notabilis Crib Exhibition.

7 DECEMBER 2019, 21:00

BANDA SAN GORG ANNUAL EVENT

CONCERT

COSPICUA

On the Eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,

Saturday 7 th December 2019, the St. George’s Band Club of

Cospicua is organising the Annual Concert. It is a very well

attended concert due to the innovative and musical concepts

and ideas of the highest level both from a musical and

organisational perspective.

13 TH DECEMBER 2019 AT 7.30PM

MUSSORGSKY PICTURES

AT AN EXHIBITION

CONCERT HALL, PALAZZO DE LA SALLE, VALLETTA

Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition will be performed by

pianist Ramona Zammit Formosa at the Malta Society of Arts.

This will be followed by the inauguration of an art exhibition

of works by Maestro Pawlu Grech. The event will also include

a talk by Dr Silvio John Camilleri about Mro Grech’s paintings,

some of which are being exhibited for the first time.

www.pawlugrech.com and www.artsmalta.org/events


15 TH TO 24 TH NOVEMBER 2019

ŻIGUŻAJG INTERNATIONAL ARTS

FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG

PEOPLE

The acclaimed ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for

Children and Young People is back with its ninth edition, with

a colourful and diverse repertoire of 21 different productions.

Aimed at children aged a few months and upwards, the

productions cover nine different performance art forms.

With performances from Malta, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,

France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Spain and

the UK, ŻiguŻajg 2019 is full of international flavour. The

programme features a number of productions that are the

fruit of collaborations with some of Malta’s top public cultural

organisations including Teatru Manoel, ŻfinMalta, Teatru Malta,

The Gabriel Caruana Foundation, and The Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra.

ŻiguŻajg is produced by Fondazzjoni Kreattività and will run

from 15 to 24 November 2019. For more information and to

book tickets visit www.ziguzajg.org.

22 ND DECEMBER 2019 TO 5 TH JANUARY 2020

THE LITTLE MERMAID –

THE PANTO UNDER THE SEA

MANOEL THEATRE, VALLETTA

This year’s offering at Christmas in the island’s true home of

Panto, the Manoel Theatre, is the obvious choice for families,

definitely a festive must see. With a stellar cast and directed

by Chris Gatt, The Little Mermaid is an energetic and hilarious

story of unrequited love and adventures under the sea. Don’t

miss out this Christmas.

www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or 21246389

21 ST – 22 ND DECEMBER 2019

ECO CHRISTMAS

MAGAZZINO HALL, VALLETTA WATERFRONT

The Eco Christmas by Eco Market Malta will be held between

the 21 st and 22 nd December 2019 at Magazzino Hall, Valletta

Waterfront.

You will have the opportunity to find the most innovative,

contemporary and sustainable Christmas gifts for your loved

ones and at the same time be kinder to the planet.

During this event, there will also be a B2B section, several

talks and activities.

If you are looking for more sustainable ways to start the new

year, or if you have an exceptionally Eco-friendly business, this

is the event you should not miss.

23 RD DECEMBER 2019 TO 4 TH JANUARY 2020

ALADDIN – THE PANTO

MFCC, TA’ QALI

This year’s MADC panto Aladdin takes the audience on a

magical trip to the Orient. It is written by panto stalwart

Alan Montanaro who returns to play the Dame

www.madc.com.mt


One of his pupils Princess Nathalie Poutiatine recalls in her

memoir, “He found the light effects on the Malta stone most

effective against the deep cobalt blue of sea and sky”.

The Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Valletta will be

marking 155 th birth anniversary of Nikolay Krasnov with an

exhibition of the works he had done while staying in Malta.

Over 20 digital copies of Krasnov’s watercolours, forming part

of the Heritage Malta – MUZA collection as well as a private

collection, will be on display from 26 th November to 27 th

December 2019. Free entrance

26 TH DECEMBER 2019 TO 12 TH JANUARY 2020

THE COMEDY KNIGHTS 007:

LICENCE TO LAUGH

SALESIAN THEATRE, SLIEMA

Malta’s annual sell-out adult comedy Christmas show

returns to the Salesians Theatre for its latest edition: 007

License to Laugh! Expect endless no-holds-barred laughs

to see in 2020. comedyknights.com

27 TH NOVEMBER TO 20 TH DECEMBER 2019

VITORI BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE

For the first time ever, Cirque du Soleil will present an exclusive

and original live performance in Malta for the 40 th anniversary

of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in the historic city

of Valletta.

VITORI mobilizes a cast of characters inspired by the pieces

in the game of chess, the ultimate game of logic and rational

thinking. Brimming with talent and torque, two teams go

head to head on a huge chessboard, ready to wage a battle

to the end. But when the golden King falls in love with the

black Rook, he puts everything in the balance to get closer to

his beloved, leaving his unsuspecting subjects in total disarray.

26 TH NOVEMBER TO 27 TH DECEMBER 2019

NIKOLAY KRASNOV & HIS LEGACY

EXHIBITION

RUSSIAN CENTRE FOR SCIENCE

AND CULTURE IN VALLETTA

Nikolay Krasnov (1864–1939) a famous Russian architect and

artist was one of those fallen in love with the beauty of Maltese

landscapes. Tying up Russia and Malta with the power of art

Nikolay Krasnov captured the warmth of Maltese sun and the

touch of Maltese stone under the blue Mediterranian sky. Best

known architectural masterpiece of his is the Livadia palace

in Yalta (Crimea), a summer residence of the last Russian Tsar

Nicolas II.

Krasnov lived in Malta in 1919–1922 among many other Russian

exiles who fled the Russian revolution of 1917 and left a rich

artistic legacy behind.

31 TH DECEMBER 2019

NEW YEAR’S EVE

AT VALLETTA WATERFRONT

End the year in style and join in the New Year 2020

celebrations: entertainment for the old and young will be

provided throughout the night on the 31 st with live bands

and roaming children’s animation. At the stroke of midnight,

there will be an aerial fireworks display, overlooking the

historic port and fortifications, along with other surprises.

WHATS’ ON • MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

#1 • 2019

7 DECEMBER 2019 • 6:00 PM TILL 8:00 PM

DISNEY: THE LION KING IN CONCERT LIVE TO FILM

MALTA FAIRS AND CONVENTION CENTRE, TA’ QALI

KEVIN ABELA Conductor

Hans Zimmer Musical Score for The Lion King

Jon Favreau’s photorealistic computer-animated remake released in July 2019 was

defined as “a roaring success”. Featuring a voice cast including Donald Glover,

Beyoncé and James Earl Jones with songs by Tim Rice and Elton John, the live

action film version is performed in Malta. This family-friendly symphonic cinema

event offers patrons a unique experience of watching the Disney classic whilst the

MPO performs live the enigmatic soundtrack. AGE: 3+


FROM MALTA TO BOHEMIA

ROBERT SAMUT HALL, FLORIANA

MPO STRING QUARTET • MICHAEL LAUS Piano

The MPO String Quartet presents works by contemporary Maltese composers.

Michael Laus joins the performers for an oeuvre which “epitomizes more completely

the genuine Dvořák style”, a quintet of symphonic textures full of romantic melodies.


JOSEPH CALLEJA CHRISTMAS CONCERT

TEATRU MANOEL, VALLETTA

DAVID CHAN Conductor • JOSEPH CALLEJA Tenor • FOUNDATION SCHOLARS

This is the annual fund-raising concert of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation,

established to provide encouragement and assistance to exceptionally talented

young persons in the field of the performing arts, and to use to power of music

to assist in the lives of vulnerable children. The concert will feature Joseph Calleja,

Foundation Scholars together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted

by David Chan.

21 DECEMBER 2019 • TIME: 7:30 PM TILL 9:00 PM

CHRISTMAS SERENADES

GRAND BALLROOM AT THE PHOENICIA HOTEL, FLORIANA

RAOUL LAY Conductor

The MPO greets Christmas with a chamber orchestra concert presenting sweet

melodies. Dvořák’s Serenade reflects the happiness pervading his life at the time

whereas Strauss’s work, composed at the age of 13, anticipates the lyrical elements

found in his more mature works. Siegfried Idyll, Wagner’s intimate tone poem,

celebrates the composer’s love for his wife.

26–29 DECEMBER 2019 • 5:00 PM TILL 5:00 PM

ÇATAL DUO

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY – MUMBAI

FIORELLA CAMILLERI Flute • AHMED DICKINSON CÁRDENAS Guitar

Mood Indigo is regarded as Asia’s largest college cultural festival. MPO flautist

Fiorella Camilleri teams up with Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas to present a concert

of works by Cuban artist Eduardo Martin. Inspired by musical styles from different

countries, notably his native land, his works present traits of folk, jazz and classical.

8 ARTS COUNCIL • MALTA

#1 • 2019

Il-Premju Għall-Arti

2019

ON THE EVENING OF 16 APRIL 2019, THE VENERABLE WALLS OF

THE BEAUTIFUL MANOEL THEATRE IN VALLETTA SAW A VIVID AND

IMPORTANT EVENT: THE PRESENTATION OF IL-PREMJU GĦALL-ARTI

2019, MALTA’S HIGHEST NATIONAL ARTS AWARD, ORGANISED BY THE

ARTS COUNCIL MALTA WITH THE SUPPORT OF MALTA’S MINISTRY

FOR JUSTICE, CULTURE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The principal guests at the awards

ceremony included Malta’s recently

elected President HE George Vella

and his spouse. The ceremony

featured the traditional attributes

of such events: white-tie attire for ladies and

gentlemen, a red carpet, a live broadcast on

Malta’s National TV channel, fanfares and an

array of presenters announcing the names of

those have been entered into the history of

Malta’s cultural life.

Il-Premju Għall-Arti, Malta’s highest

national awards in the arts, were presented

for the second time in 2019. There were

such nominations as “Best Work for Young

Audiences”, “Best Community Project”, “Best

Artistic Programme or Season”, “Production

of the Year”, “Best International Achievement”,

“Artist of the Year”, “Innovation Award”, “Best

Creative Enterprise”, “Audience’s Choice

Award” and others.

The categories were determined in

accordance with the Arts Council Malta’s

2020 strategic plan.

On 16 April 2019, the stage of the Manoel

Theatre welcomed Malta’s preeminent

cultural figures to receive their awards,

including the famous Maltese architect,

writer and artist Richard England, winner

of the “Lifetime Achievement Award”

(“Unurgħall-Karriera Artistika”). The

“Audience’s Choice Award” went to the

Valletta 2018 Foundation. It was received by

the Foundation’s head, Jason Micallef, and

its executive director Catherine Tabone.

Composer and director Luke Saydon was

three-time winner of the evening, winning

in the categories “Production of the Year”

(Premjugħall-AqwaProduzzjon), “Young

Artist of the Year” (Premjugħall-Artist

Żagħżugħ tas-Sena), and “Best Work

for Young Audiences” (Rebbiehaghallaqwaxogħolgħaludjenzi

żgħar). Innovative

and creative Malta was represented by

Anvil Game Studios. They designed an

online game based on the Napoleonic Wars

and won in the “Best Creative Enterprise”

category.

Throughout the evening, the theatre

rang with congratulations and words of

gratitude in the Maltese language. There

was only one exception: the thank-you

speech was delivered in English when

Konstantin Ishkhanov, President of the

European Foundation for Support of

Culture, the first and so far only foreign

recipient of Malta’s highest award in the

arts, received the “Honour of Cultural

Promoters” for his unique contribution to

the culture of Malta.

The award winners received a glass and

ceramic sculpture created by the Maltese

sculptor Kane Cali. It embodies the author’s

attitude to creative work, when vibrations,

waves, the movement of water freeze and

become a physical object. Artists must not

struggle, they must create: such was the

sculptor’s idea.

Albert Marshall

EXECUTIVE CHAIR,

MALTA ARTS COUNCIL:

“Il-Premju Għall-Arti 2019

awards ceremony is a very

important event for us. For

those who have dedicated

their life to the arts, it is a

wonderful opportunity to

receive the recognition they

deserve. The government of

Malta focuses particularly

on culture and the creative

industry. It is generally

understood that culture

requires investment. These

cultural investments will

benefit the people of

Malta and will advance the

development of Malta’s

economy.”


Jason Micallef

HEAD OF THE VALLETTA

CULTURAL AGENCY

“AUDIENCE’S CHOICE AWARD”:

“I am very glad that our agency

received this recognition,

the highest award for

achievements in the arts for the

year 2019. All the programmes

we ran were dedicated to

developing Maltese culture,

Valletta. It is wonderful that

all the people we have been

working for have chosen us

as deserving recipients of this

award. It was the result of the

“Valletta 2018” year. Now, the

key thing is to look forwards

and to use the successful

experience of the events we

held to continue our work.

Creating the Valletta cultural

agency was an important

step and we will continue

our collaboration. We have a

great number of cultural and

infrastructural projects in the

works. In particular, creating

the Valletta Design Cluster,

Malta’s first. It’s a wonderful

thing to be creating this project

for creative professionals in our

capital, for those who are just

now launching their projects

and for those who are working

on projects that are already

under way.

As for cultural events, we invite

local artists to take part in

shaping new projects. We will

be developing a large-scale

programme and, at the same

time, we will certainly continue

with existing projects, such

as the Malta Fashion Week,

the Valletta Film Festival, the

Notte-Bianca Museum Night

and, of course, our traditional

Christmas celebrations.”

PHOTOS COMMISSIONED BY ARTS COUNCIL MALTA PHOTOS COMMISSIONED BY ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

UNIQUE SCULPTURE IN GLASS AND CERAMIC,

BY MALTESE ARTIST KANE CALI

CHAIRMAN JASON MICALLEF AND EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR CATHERINE TABONE RECEIVED AUDIENCE’S CHOICE

AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE VALLETTA 2018 FOUNDATION

Andrew Farrugia

ANVIL GAME STUDIOS PRODUCER

“BEST CREATIVE ENTERPRISE”

WINNER:

“We will keep this award in

our office and it will inspire

us to strive for further

achievements. We are the

first Maltese company to

design online games. It is a

very interesting thing: not

only to be part of history

but also to make history.

We are very happy to

have this opportunity. Our

winning this award may

inspire many people in

Malta to start working on

game design. This is a very

interesting industry with a

huge potential. For us, it is

not only a business, it is also

art, the possibility to create

something interesting and

worthy of attention.”

ARTS COUNCIL • MALTA

#1 • 2019

WINNERS

Best Creative Enterprise:

Anvil Games Studios

ANDREW FARRUGIA

Innovation Award:

Magna Żmien –

ANDREW ALAMANGO

Artist of the Year:

The New Victorians

PHOTOS COMMISSIONED BY ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

Best Artistic Programme

or Season:

The Malta Jazz Festival

2018 - Festivals Malta

Best International

Achievement:

Kirana, Soundscapes

Ruben Żahra

Best Work for Young

Audiences:

Hush –

DENISE MULHOLLAND

and LUKE SAYDON

Production of the Year:

Hush –

DENISE MULHOLLAND

and LUKE SAYDON

Young Artist of the Year:

LUKE SAYDON

Best Project in the

Community:

Deep Shelter –

PAMELA BALDACCHINO

in collaboration with the

V18 Foundation

Audience’s Choice Award:

Valletta 2018 Opening –

Valletta 2018 Foundation

Lifetime Achievement

Award:

RICHARD ENGLAND

PHOTOS COMMISSIONED BY ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

Luke Saydon

COMPOSER, STAGE DIRECTOR

(“PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR”, “YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR”,

AND “BEST WORK FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES” AWARDS):

“Such recognition certainly means a lot for a creative person, and not just for me, but

also for those artists who took part in our project, particularly young artists. This is

something special and today is a wonderful celebration! It is very nice to see this special

attention to culture. When I was a child, arts in Malta were treated merely as a pleasant

hobby, something you did for pleasure, not as a career. But for the last few years, for

instance, I have been working as an artist professionally, this is my only job. Thank you,

Malta! I am grateful for having the opportunity to work in culture, to meet many new

and interesting people every week, to give the world theatre, music, works of art. This

is great! Yes, much has been done and much has changed for the better.”

Honour for Artistic

Legacy:

Soċjeta’ Santa Marija u

Banda Re Gorg V Mqabba

Honour for Cultural

Promoters:

European Foundation

for Support of Culture –

KONSTANTIN ISHKHANOV

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER RICHARD ENGLAND

12 MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

A Union of Cultures

MPO Moscow Tour

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will give four

concerts in Moscow as part of the MPO MOSCOW

TOUR – A Union of Cultures project. The upcoming

tour is organized by the European Foundation

for Support of Culture, together with the MPO, in

partnership with the Association for Support of Cultural

and Commercial Initiatives (APKI), under the auspices of the

President of Malta. On 21 November, famous Maltese tenor

Joseph Calleja will perform on the stage of the Zaryadye

Hall, conducted by Constantine Orbelian, Honoured Artist

of Russia.

The Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow International House of Music

will host the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra on 23 November,

together with violinist Ray Chen, one of the most prominent

young musicians of our time, winner of The Queen Elizabeth

Competition (2009), who performed at the Opening Ceremony

of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan at the age of eight.

The Malta orchestra will be conducted by maestro Sergey

Smbatyan, Honoured Artist of the Republic of Armenia,

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian

State Symphonic Orchestra, who has recently been appointed

Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of

Sergey Smbatyan, will be performing in the Stravinsky Big

Hall of Helikon-Opera on 25 November, together with pianist

Alessandro Taverna, winner of the Leeds International Piano

Competition (2009).

The Grand Hall of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire

will host a concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

on 27 November. Legendary Israeli violinist, viola player,

conductor and teacher Shlomo Mintz will be performing. The

orchestra will be conducted by Sergey Smbatyan.

The concert programme of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra,

visiting the Russian capital for the second time in 2019,

includes works by Russian, European and Maltese composers:

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Antonin Dvorak,

Alexey Shor, Christopher Muscat, Nicolas Isouard, and Charles

Camilleri.

MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

#1 • 2019

21 NOVEMBER

ZARYADYE CONCERT HALL

Zaryadye is a multifunctional concert venue, with two halls

and an organ. It is situated below ground – the building is built

into one of the artificial hills erected by Russian architectors

and builders. Above ground is the entrance area and a rounded

roof made of glass and metal structures – The Glass Canopy,

the world’s largest translucent structure without enclosing

walls. The structure makes it possible to retain heat under

the roof even in the winter.

23 NOVEMBER

SVETLANOV HALL, MOSCOW

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF MUSIC

The Moscow International House of Music was officially

opened on September 28, 2003 with the debut of a new

orchestra, the National Philharmonic of Russia under musical

director Vladimir Spivakov. Also known as the Moscow

International House of Music (Dom Muzyki), it is situated on

the Kosmodamianskaya Embankment off the Garden Ring

Road.

25 NOVEMBER

STRAVINSKY HALL, HELICON-OPERA

Helikon-Opera is located on the territory of the oldest

Moscow estate. It’s history began in 1730s, when knyaz

Vasily Nikitich Repnin built a two-storeyed mansion in the

Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street. The thick stone walls stood out

the 1812 Fire of Moscow and are now a part of the existing

building. The facade and interior décor of the main building

date back to mid-1880s and late 1940s. Bolshaya Nikitskaya

Street, 19 is a well-known address for the Muscovites.

A quarter of a century ago the Musical Theatre Helikon-

Opera directed by Dmitry Bertman was born there.

27 NOVEMBER

GREAT HALL,

MOSCOW STATE CONSERVATORY

The Moscow State Conservatory, named after the famous

composer Piotr Tchaikovsky, and frequently referred to as

the “Tchaikovsky Conservatory”, was founded on September

1, 1866, by Nikolay Rubinstein (1835-1881), a brilliant pianist,

conductor and musical “propagator”. At present, the Moscow

Conservatory is one of the finest and most famous schools of

music in the world. This said, as opposed to being one school

of music, the Conservatory is, in reality, an entire complex of

institutions, consisting not only of the Conservatory itself, but

also of different Conservatory-affiliated schools.

14 INTERVIEW • JOSEPH CALLEJA

Joseph Calleja

“Moscow has some of

the World’s Warmest

Audiences!”

ON 21 NOVEMBER, MOSCOW’S

POPULAR MODERN ZARYADYE

CONCERT HALL WILL HOST A

CONCERT FEATURING THE MALTA

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

AND JOSEPH CALLEJA, MALTA’S

MOST FAMOUS TENOR, LEGEND

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND

AND A WORLD CELEBRITY, AS

THE SOLOIST. IN THIS INTERVIEW,

JOSEPH CALLEJA SPEAKS ABOUT

HIS LOVE FOR MALTA, OPERA AND

RUSSIAN CULTURE.

Joseph, you are Malta’s Cultural Ambassador, the

public knows you as a Maltese tenor, the ‘Maltese

falcon’. What does it all mean for you? How does this

affect your creative development, your personality?

I am proud of the name the international press has given

me. I always remember my native island; I talk about it in

every interview with foreign journalists. I invite famous

performers to Malta; I try to find investors for cultural

projects on the island. I am very earnest about my role

as cultural ambassador for my homeland, which I love

dearly.

INTERVIEW • JOSEPH CALLEJA

#1 • 2019

How would you describe cultural life in Malta today?

Cultural life has definitely become more dynamic. The present

government has certainly done a lot for our culture. Yet still

much more can be done… Developing cultural tourism on

the island has great prospects, as has creation of cultural

programmes for all visitors to our island.

Every August, you perform in Floriana in Malta together

with world-famous musicians. How do you choose the

guest performers for those universally beloved concerts?

Are they just colleagues on the international stage? Or are

you fast friends?

Some of the guests do, indeed, become friends, for instance,

Andrea Boccelli, Riccardo Cocciante, and the late Lucio Dalla…

Do you have favourite places in Malta? What is your perfect

day at home?

Mellieħa and some spots on Gozo are my favorites. Then there

are certainly Valletta and Mdina. A perfect day for me is a

long walk around the island but it is best done in winter. For

summer, I would choose something else: a boat ride exploring

our picturesque coastline.

Malta has so much, concentrating thousands of years of

history. The island is right in the middle of the Mediterranean

and all the great civilizations of antiquity left their mark here.

This is unique, so one can explore Malta endlessly.

Rock music was your first love (in one of your interviews,

you said that you were in a rock band at school), but opera

became your main passion. How did that happen?

As a teenager, I played with Konrad Pule in the band Scar. It

was at the De La Salle school. I liked Queen, Iron Maiden, AC/

DC, Deep Purple, Nirvana… But I was born with an operatic

voice and that ultimately determined my musical path. When

I was 13, I saw “The Great Caruso” starring Mario Lanza. And

when I heard his voice, I decided I wanted to sing opera arias.

Later, my teacher Paul Asciak told me I had what it takes to

make my dream come true. The confidence my teacher gave

me launched my operatic career.

Your life is filled with concert tours. Which performance

is the most memorable and why?

I could name a great many concerts but, if I had to choose

just one, then singing at Wimbledon in front of 20,000 people

was amazing. It was a few months ago at the celebration of

the re-opening of Tennis Court No. 1.

I performed Boccelli’s Con Te Partirò and the BBC broadcast

it live. After the concert, I was so inspired by it all that I myself

streamed live on Facebook, as a tennis fan in the stands.

Once you said there is no need to go to university for

25 years to go to operas. Yet what do you think it actually

takes to understand opera?

An ear for music and a bit of time to evaluate what you are

hearing. Just absorb the sound. Like you would a good cigar

or a glass of wine!

On 21 November, at the Zaryadye Concert Hall in Moscow,

the European Foundation for Support of Culture, together

with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, is organizing

a concert as part of the ‘MPO Moscow Tour – A Union

of Cultures.’ Why did you decide to take part in this

international project?

I have always admired Russian culture: I like Russian literature,

Russian romances… as for the audiences, well, Moscow has

some of the world’s warmest audiences! I have performed

in Moscow several times and I can say this with confidence.

The EUFSC, the organizer of the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra’s tour, is a key player in developing classical

music in Malta and abroad: it holds multiple musical

festivals, concerts, master-lasses, competitions and other

important events. What is your opinion of the significance

its activities have for Malta?

I know that the Foundation organizes the annual Malta

International Music Festival, which attracts world-class

classical performers and allows Malta to take an important

place on the world’s cultural map. Of course, the work of the

EUFSC is very important for development of our culture in

general and I hope the number of the Foundation’s projects

will increase by the year.

What do you think are the unique features of the Russian

mindset?

I’ve always admired the Russian ‘sense of honour’ and love of

their country. Besides, talking about Russia, we always talk

about recognized cultural riches, works of classical music and

literature.

What will you certainly take with you to Moscow?

Warm clothes. Your audiences are very warm but the autumn

can be quite cold.

When I was 13, I saw “The Great Caruso” starring

Mario Lanza. And when I heard his voice, I decided

I wanted to sing opera arias.

16 INTERVIEW • SHLOMO MINTZ

Shlomo Mintz

“Moscow is a special

city for me...”

INTERVIEW • SHLOMO MINTZ

#1 • 2019

ON 27 NOVEMBER, THE GRAND HALL OF MOSCOW STATE TCHAIKOVSKY

CONSERVATOIRE WILL BE HOSTING THE FINAL CONCERT OF THE MALTA

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA TOUR “MPO MOSCOW TOUR – A UNION OF CULTURES”.

SHLOMO MINTZ, THE LEGENDARY ISRAELI VIOLINIST, VIOLA PLAYER, CONDUCTOR

AND TEACHER, WHO FIRST TOOK UP THE VIOLIN AT THE AGE OF THREE AND

DEBUTED AS A SOLOIST OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA WHEN HE

WAS ELEVEN, WILL BE PERFORMING. WE TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT THE SEA, ABOUT

MUSIC, MALTA AND MOSCOW.

You were born in Moscow but then moved to Israel.

In your opinion, how has this city changed over time?

Do you have any particular places in Moscow, which you

love the most?

I am sure that Moscow is not the same city that it was when

I visited it for the first time in 1982. I was born on Arbat Street

and left Moscow when I was only two, but my parents spent

a lot of time in Moscow. So of course, the city has a very

special meaning to me. Besides visiting the main institutions,

the Kremlin, Red Square and other important and very

emblematic places, Moscow has a very special atmosphere,

which is constantly changing, with small theatres, venues

and local activities. I am personally not so informed on those

activities but I always enjoy being introduced to new things

whenever I go to Moscow.

As a soloist you will perform at the Grand Hall of the Moscow

Conservatory together with the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra under the baton of its Principal Conductor

Sergey Smbatyan within the MPO Moscow Tour – A Union

of Cultures project. Could you present us your concert

programme?

First of all, I would like to say that I am very excited to perform

with the MPO on the same stage. Well, within that frame the

composition of Alexey Shor is certainly new and revealing, it

represents and gives the scope of the sea which is far away

from Moscow. So, something to imagine for the Moscow

audiences and I suppose in that way it is a sort of exchange. I

will also play in this concert, “Le Coq d’Or” by Russian composer

Rimsky-Korsakov as a sign of “the union of the cultures”.

You have already performed works by A. Shor within the

Vienna Classic Strings Festival, the Wandering Music Stars

International Festival in Israel, at a concert in Kazakhstan,

and soon you will play his compositions in the USA and

Russia. As a composer, have you found something in

common with the music of Alexey Shor?

I find his music near in harmony progression and in the sense

of neoclassicism. Both Mr Shor’s and mine tastes are deeply

rooted in the classical period and of course, it is reflected in

any of the compositions that either him or me have composed.

So, in that way gives me great pleasure to perform his music.

Recently, you have participated in many projects organized

by the European Foundation for Support of Culture. Do

you have any plans to continue your cooperation with the

Foundation and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra? Shall

we wait for you in Malta?

I am looking forward to work with the Foundation all over

Russia in 2020; this is something that I have missed in many,

many years of career as a soloist and as a conductor, and it

seems it will happen next season. But not only to work in

Russia, but also in other countries where their activities are. I

think that they are doing an important and very tremendous

work and they should be fully credited for all their efforts.

I am also looking forward of course to come back to Malta

where I have played and conducted before, and I will be

pleased to be back for a visit. It is a beautiful place with a

great audience and hopefully after this work together in

the upcoming concert in Moscow, we will continue working

together. I am looking forward to it!

I will also play in this concert, “Le Coq d’Or” by

Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov as a sign

of “the union of the cultures”

18 INTERVIEW • RAY CHEN

Ray Chen

“You can hear Malta

in Alexey Shor’s

music...”

ON 23 NOVEMBER, THE MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF MUSIC WILL

BE HOSTING THE MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AS PART OF THE MPO

MOSCOW TOUR – A UNION OF CULTURES PROJECT. VIOLINIST RAY CHEN,

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT YOUNG MUSICIANS OF OUR TIME, FIRST

PRIZE WINNER OF THE YEHUDI MENUHIN (2008) AND QUEEN ELIZABETH

(2009) COMPETITIONS, WILL BE PERFORMING.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Ray

Chen was accepted by the Curtis Institute

of Music at the age of 15 and studied

with Aaron Rosand. As winner of the New

York International Young Concert Artists

competition (2008–2009), the musician was authorised

to play a 1721 Stradivarius violin The MacMillan on loan.

The concert at the Moscow International House of

Music will start with the Festival Overture for symphony

orchestra by the Maltese composer Christopher Muscat.

Then, Ray Chen will perform the work Phantasms by

contemporary American-Maltese composer Alexey

Shor. The subsequent performances will include the

famous concert piece by French composer Saint-Saëns

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Tchaikovsky’s

Symphony No. 5 in E minor.

In 2018, Ray Chen took part in the Malta International

Music Festival, where he performed a work by

contemporary American-Maltese composer Alexey

Shor. According to the violinist, Shor’s music is inspired

by life on the Mediterranean and the bounties of the

sea.

“You can hear everyday life of the island encoded

in his music, something intimate, authentic and, at

times, you can imagine how the storm is raging on

the seashore”, said Ray Chen.

INTERVIEW • RAY CHEN

#1 • 2019

5 QUOTES BY RAY CHEN

“PERHAPS FOR A SHORT TIME, IN THE LATE 90S, IT MADE

SENSE TO GO ON STAGE IN EVERYDAY CLOTHES BUT

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN. And this means

that, as an industry, classical music should take a closer look

at how young people behave. We have begun to pay much

more attention to image so I think we need to organise

concerts in a format that would be interesting to go to”.

“THE VIOLIN I PLAY USED TO BELONG TO THE HUNGARIAN

VIRTUOSO JOSEPH JOACHIM, WHO WAS ONE OF THE

“GODFATHERS OF THE VIOLIN” AND WAS ON FRIENDLY

TERMS WITH BRAHMS, BRUCH AND SCHUMANN. All

three composers dedicated their violin concertos to him.

Sometimes, I like to joke that all the notes are already there,

you just need to convince the violin to open them up to the

listener”.

“TO PLAY A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN MEANS TO FEEL A DEEPER

CONNECTION WITH THE COMPOSERS WHO WROTE WORKS

FOR IT. We are talking about thousands of hours of music

that have already been associated with this instrument. You

feel more confident, and this adds magic to the music. But

the most important thing, probably, is sensing history and

tradition – something that best characterises a classical

musician”.

“THE ROLE OF CONDUCTOR IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A

STORYTELLER CRAFTING THE ENVIRONMENT OR WORLD

IN WHICH THE MAIN CHARACTER (THE CONCERTO

SOLOIST) LIVES. Each performance is like a re-telling of

King Arthur or Hamlet, where the orchestra can either help

or hinder the hero. A perfect conductor knows the minds

of the 60+ members of the orchestra and can anticipate

the mind of the soloist, too, creating the perfect path

organically and without force.

“THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT SEEING YOUR

FAVOURITE ARTIST PERFORM MAGIC ON STAGE, A FEW

METRES AWAY FROM YOU. No studio recording, of course,

can convey such magic. This is similar to the way actors

appear in films: with perfect hairstyles, in perfectly ironed

shirts – and then you see them in everyday life, in a store

or a restaurant. They are, of course, the same as everyone

else but… no, there is something enigmatic, mysterious

about them”.

20 INTERVIEW • ALESSANDRO TAVERNA

Alessandro Taverna

“ Music expresses

emotions when words

aren’t enough...”

ON 25 NOVEMBER, THE STRAVINSKY BIG HALL OF HELIKON-OPERA

WILL WELCOME THE MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA GIVING

A CONCERT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SERGEY SMBATYAN, THE SOLO

TO BE PERFORMED BY ALESSANDRO TAVERNA, WINNER OF THE LEEDS

INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (2009).

Alessandro, born in Venice, has performed

in the world’s most famous halls and was

awarded the Premio Presidente della

Repubblica by Italian President Giorgio

Napolitano for artistic achievements and

his international career. In this interview, Alessandro

Taverna talks about his career as a musician, which

started with a recording of Mozart works on tape and

continued at concert venues around the world.

You were hailed by the British music critics as the

“natural successor to his great compatriot Arturo

Benedetti Michelangeli”. Do you personally feel

the connection between you and Arturo Benedetti

Michelangeli?

I’ve always smiled thinking about this comparison

and I’m conscious I’m only able to try to aspire to his

greatness. Of course, I feel a deep connection with his

figure and with the concept of music that he embodied

INTERVIEW • ALESSANDRO TAVERNA

#1 • 2019

and conveyed: the musicians have to remain a means to let

pass the real message coming from the score, and they have

the duty of interpreting the musical sign with integrity and

seriousness to let the emotions spring from it.

How was the passion for music and piano born and what

does the Music mean to you? Have you had a musical

family or particular mentor/inspiration who influenced

you the most?

My parents are not musical at all and I’m not sure if there were

music roots in any of my previous generations. I remember to

have grown up with music as a natural thing, as something

that I liked and that I’ve always tried to carry on in the most

“genuine” way possible, never thinking that it should have

become my job. I had a memory linked to the beginnings: it

was a tape with Mozart Piano Sonata in A minor played by Sir

Andras Schiff, which I loved so much that I promised myself

that one day I would have been able to play it too. As a little

child, I had not that kind of opportunities that technology and

Internet grant nowadays: I still remember what was the joy

to look at the score for the first time, when my piano teacher

gave it to me.

Thinking about what Music means to me, sometimes I answer

that it is a way to be able to talk about emotions with words

that I would not have the courage to use.

I know that Italy is known as a country of musicians: I would

ask if it is possible to be Italian and not to be a musician?

They say that Italian as a language has a special musicality

(and, more generally, that our way of expressing ourselves as

musicians is somehow linked to the inflections of our native

language). Italy, towards which I feel a very deep bond, is

surely a country which has given to mankind so much from

both a musical and artistic point of view. Today, we’re probably

experiencing the difficulties that, I’m sure, we find everywhere

about being musicians in a world that is interested in classical

music perhaps only in a small percentage: a good average

amateur level is probably missing among Italian families,

and this could represent a growing problem, which involves

especially the education system… nevertheless, the interest

on music can never be said to have faded, even in a fastchanging

society like ours.

Your career path crosses with such big names in the field

of classical music as Laura Ferrari, Franco Scala, Leonid

Margarius and Boris Petrushansky. Can you memorize a

couple of useful tips you gained from working with them?

There are both technical and expressive tips that I have

learned and treasured by studying with them: indeed, I have

always tried to look at the good that exists in every situation

and from very different teachings, without rejecting anything

“completely”, even what maybe I wasn’t totally agree with.

Among all, I believe in the legato, in the importance of

phrasing and in the use of a particular fingering as “first-class”

expressive means.

You have already performed in different countries including

in the UK, Slovenia, Switzerland and now you will perform

in Russia together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra:

what are your expectations from this particular concert?

I’m really very excited, first because I’ve never performed in

Moscow, and also because it’s my first meeting with the Malta

Philharmonic Orchestra. I always think that working with the

orchestra is one of the most exciting situation for a musician:

it’s like make chamber music, only in a much larger size and

I’m sure this magic will also take place with Maltese musicians

and their Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan. Russia has

always represented in the musical universe an essential

reference point, for their incredible musical tradition and for

the incomparable artistic legacy, therefore being there will be

a moment of deep emotion and great responsibility.

Could you tell us what is the music programme for the

concert at the Stravinsky Big Hall of Helikon-Opera?

The evening will be opened by Alexey Shor’s “Travel Notebook”,

and this will be followed by Nicolò Isouard’s “Du Medecin

Turc” Overture, Charles Camilleri “Mediterranean Dances” and

Albert Garzia’s “Suite” from “Bahr”.

You will perform a suite “Travel Notebook” by American-

Maltese composer Alexey Shor. How can you describe his

music?

Highly imaginative. It’s something very much provoking for

the soloist, because of its undoubtedly modern language, its

originality and, why not, for its catchiness. I had the feeling, by

sitting on the piano to study this piece, to be able to breathe a

different air, fresh, that doesn’t sound like “academic”, a music

that is not a prisoner of schemes or that does not have to pay

a tribute to anybody but that is free to express itself according

to the limpid composer’s primitive idea.

Are you excited to perform Maltese music together

with truly Maltese musicians – the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra – on the same stage?

As I said before, I’m very much looking forward to play this

piece with 100% Maltese musicians. And hopefully, after this

first meeting, to play together again in Malta!

Russia is a country with a great passion for piano music

and orchestral music. What are your main thoughts on this

country having a big relation with the music?

The word “passion” in its authentic meaning can exactly

explain the relation between Russia and music: I would

add the word “colorful” (my first musical memories related

to this country, are linked to the choreographies and the

ballets by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, as well as to

its extraordinary performers). I expect to breathe the same

enthusiasm that I’ve always felt by watching and listening

to the Russian masterpieces of last century, together with a

sense of deep seriousness and respect.

Do you have your favourite Russian composers?

Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Scriabin and Stravinsky are certainly

among my absolute favorite ones.

Have you ever participated in projects organized by the

European Foundation for Support of Culture? Do you

have any plans to continue your cooperation with the

Foundation?

This is the first time for me, and I definitely hope to continue

in this project that promotes and helps through culture to

establish international relations in a wider sense… and we

know they are necessary, especially nowadays.

FILM • STORBJU

#1 • 2019

Not Just Noise!

FILM ON SETTE GIUGNO IS NOW BEING SHOT IN MALTA

“QUIET ON THE SET! AND… ACTION!” VERDALA PALACE, FORT MANOEL,

THE STREETS OF THE TOWN OF BORMLA ON MALTA, THE MANOEL

THEATRE WILL HEAR THESE COMMANDS MANY TIMES IN THE COMING

DAYS. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, SHOOTING STARTED IN MALTA OF THE FIRST

FILM DEDICATED TO THE ISLAND’S HISTORY. THE FILM TELLS THE

STORY OF ONE OF MALTA’S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS, JUNE 1919,

SETTE GIUGNO, WHICH IS SOMETIMES CALLED “THE FIRST MALTESE

REVOLUTION.”

24 FILM • MADE IN MALTA

Malcolm

McDowell

ACTOR

“The film I play in tells

the story of the Maltese

people’s striving for

independence. They

succeeded, and the first

impetus was given back

then, in 1919. To oppose

the powerful British army,

they needed to be very

brave. Very young people,

students (who took part in

those events) made Malta’s

future independence

possible.”

Pedja Miletic

PRODUCER

“In essence, we are now

making the biggest

product on Malta’s film

market because this is the

first film that is Malta’s

intellectual property. This

is how this film will be

promoted internationally.”

FILMING CREW

THE FIRST FILM MADE

IN MALTA… ABOUT MALTA!

Let’s start with what everybody knows. Malta

is a world-famous film set. Over several

decades, it has seen the making of more

than 300 films, including “Troy,” “Gladiator,”

“The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Captain

Phillips,” “Midnight Express,” the “Game of

Thrones” saga. Sometimes, the legions of

fans of those epic films do not even know

that there is a small Mediterranean island

out there where all those films were made.

The irony is that none of the hundreds of

films shot on the island are about Malta itself

and none are made by local filmmakers. This

bizarre situation is to be rectified by the

making of the film “Storbju” in Maltese and

“Just Noise” in English. Shooting started on

14 September.

FROM TALKING THE TALK

TO WALKING THE WALK

The local production company Monolith is

the trailblazer of Maltese filmmaking. For

several years, the company produced lowbudget

films. Yet scriptwriter Jean Pierre

Magro had been nursing the idea of a largescale

film capable of conquering global

filmmaking centres and, one day, he pitched

the project to producers Pedja Miletic and

Aaron Briffa.

He showed them the script for a film about

the events of 1919. “The film tells the story

of the day we call Sette Giugno. It was an

uprising that happened when Malta was

ruled by Britain. This is the time when the

Maltese nation began to realise their need

for freedom. That is the moment of our

national pride!” Aaron Briffa says.

The producer recalls, “When Pedja Miletic

and I saw Jean Pierre Magro’s script, we

knew it could make a wonderful film. We

decided to realise this terrific idea!”

Pedja Miletic says that, initially, Jean Pierre

Magro’s script was more for a short film but

the topic was too big, so the film could not

possibly be a short one.

“We went to Konstantin Ishkhanov,

President of the European Foundation for

Support of Culture, showed him the script,

and described our vision of the project.

He agreed to help us in implementing

our idea; then we were joined by Malta’s

Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local

Government and the Ministry for Tourism.

That was the start of making the film”,

said Miletic.

THE “STORBJU” FILM CREW

In addition to Pedja Miletic and Aaron

Briffa, the already mentioned members

of the Monolith company, the production

team includes Konstantin Ishkhanov,

President of the European Foundation for

Support of Culture, as the general producer.

The Italian director Davide Ferrario, whose

directorial debut was the 1989 film “La fine

della notte”, was invited to take the helm

of the picture.

Ferrario is known for his ability to work

in different genres. His portfolio includes

documentaries that have been shown at

Russian film festivals, feature films and

FILM • STORBJU

#1 • 2019

musicals. He is a regular at the Venice

International Film Festival, winner of the

Berlinale. Ferrario is also known for his novel

Fade to Black (1995) made into a 2006 film

by Oliver Parker.

Ferrario says that, in the new film project, the

subject is key for him.

“This is not just a fragment from the

history of Malta; this is a universal story

of people fighting for their rights and

independence. So the tale we are telling

is international and understandable

throughout the world”, Davide Ferrario

says. “Malta is located between Europe

and Africa, at the cross-roads of culture;

it is an island that wanted to be

independent. I will try to represent that

striving in visual images!”

The film crew will be visualising Malta’s

striving for independence in the town

of Bormla, which has few aerials and

water tanks on rooftops, thus making it

possible to create the illusion of the early

20 th century. The Manoel Theatre will be

another shooting location. Initially, there

were no plans to shoot there, but the old

theatre won the hearts of the filmmakers

when they saw it. Verdala Palace will serve

as the residence of the British governor in

the film. Finally, Fort Manoel will also be a

shooting location.

Hollywood stars Harvey Keitel and Malcolm

McDowell are among the film’s cast. We will

name but a few of the many films starring

Harvey Keitel: Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” and

Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

As for the films with Malcolm McDowell,

in choosing just two them, we confine

ourselves to his starring role in Stanley

Kubrick’s “Clockwork Orange” and in Tinto

Brass’s “Caligula.”

In their first days on Malta, the legendary

actors attended a concert by the Malta

Philharmonic Orchestra in the Mediterranean

Conference Centre. “This was a concert

worthy of any world capital. A wonderful

conductor from Armenia, a marvelous

Russian pianist, the amazing sound of

the orchestra! I’d also like to note that

the musicians chose Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite

of Spring’, which is not the easiest piece

to perform! And it was terrific!” McDowell

said after the concert.

CINEMA AND MUSIC

Not by chance did the Hollywood stars go

to Malta Philharmonic’s concert. Aaron

Briffa says that an important part in

making the film is that the music for it will

be recorded by the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra, led by its principal conductor

Sergey Smbatyan.

“This is Malta Philharmonic’s first foray

into the film industry. They have never

done anything like that before!” Briffa

emphasised. “Our idea is to bring together

members of the arts industry of Malta:

from musicians to actors to stylists and

designers, to give those creative people

a unique opportunity to show their talent

beyond the island of Malta.”

As for the music for the future film to be

recorded by the Malta Philharmonic, it has

been written by the contemporary American-

Maltese composer Alexey Shor.

Aaron Briffa

PRODUCER

“Many famous films have

been made in Malta but

they were all made by

foreign companies. This

is the first time we have

given Maltese actors an

opportunity to work on a

film with such Hollywood

stars as Malcolm McDowell

and Harvey Keitel. We will

show Malta itself. It was

the background for many

films but it has never been

recognisable. For instance,

in ‘The Count of Monte

Cristo’, you see Malta’s

beautiful port but the

caption says it’s Venice or

Madrid. We want to show

Malta as Malta, and this is

also a new thing. People

will see how beautiful our

island is!”

THE UNIFORMS FOR THE ACTORS PLAYING BRITISH SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

BY THE SAME COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THE UNIFORMS BACK IN 1919.

26 FILM • MADE IN MALTA

LEFT TO RIGHT: AARON BRIFFA, MALCOLM MCDOWELL,

PEDJA MILETIC, HARVEY KEITEL

BEHIND THE SCENES

DAVIDE FERRARIO, DIRECTOR

HARVEY KEITEL WITH FILM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

KONSTANTIN ISHKHANOV

MALTA, LONG STORIES, AND PRESS

CONFERENCES AT THE MANOEL

THEATRE

Jean Pierre Magro, who wrote the script, is a producer

and writer with a PhD in transmedia narratives from

the University of Exeter. He says that, when he told

his friends he wanted to be a writer and write film

scripts, they just laughed, saying that people of Malta

“do not like telling long stories.” And at one point,

he decided that making a film about Malta in the

Maltese language and selling it on the international

market was impossible.

“But then my colleagues and I developed a plan and,

when I realised that the government was ready to

support us and we had a common vision and great

goals, I believed in the success of the idea”, Magro

said at the press conference marking the launch of

the project. The conference was held in the Manoel

Theatre on 4 September.

In addition to the creators of the idea, the presentation

of the unique Maltese project was attended by

Minister of Justice, Culture and Local Government

Owen Bonnici, Executive Chair of the Arts Council

Malta Albert Marshall, Minister of Tourism Konrad

Mizzi and President of the European Foundation for

Support of Culture Konstantin Ishkhanov.

Commenting on the plot of the film dedicated to

Sette Giugno, Minister of Justice, Culture and Local

Government Owen Bonnici noted: “We want people,

particularly the younger generation, to know our

history. It is sometimes difficult to talk to the young

people of Malta about events that took place more

than a hundred years ago. We try to preserve our

FILM • STORBJU

#1 • 2019

VERDAL PALACE IS ONE OF THE STORBJU FILM LOCATIONS

SETTE GIUGNO 2019 MONUMENT,

VALLETTA

historical memory. We celebrate the

events of 1919. What we have today

largely comes from what happened

in those days.”

Albert Marshall, Executive Chair

of Arts Council Malta, believes that

the making of the film is a very

important landmark for both Malta’s

film industry and the entire cultural

sector, since this is the first time

the government has participated in

creating a feature film dedicated to

the history of Malta.

In turn, Minister of Tourism Konrad

Mizzi said that Malta’s own film

project is an important stage in

developing Malta’s film industry and a

wonderful way of promoting the island

internationally.

The monument is dedicated to

the pivotal moment in Malta’s

contemporary political history. It was

created by Anton Agius, one of Malta’s

most striking 20 th century sculptors.

The monument was unveiled on 7

June 1986. We see the figures of six

men with bare torsos. Two of them

hold the Maltese flag. The other four

symbolise the Maltese who perished

during the riots.

Today, Sette Giugno is one of Malta’s

five national holidays. Every year, on

this day, a requiem mass is held by

the monument.

THE EVENTS OF 1919 ARE CALLED THE

FIRST MALTESE REVOLUTION. IT WAS THE

FIRST STEP IN THE STRUGGLE FOR MALTA’S

INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN. THE

INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT AND RISING

BREAD PRICES BROUGHT THE PROTESTING

PEOPLE ON TO THE STREETS. LATER, 7 JUNE

1919 WILL BE CALLED “THE DAY OF WRATH.”

THE SETTE GIUGNO UPRISING OF 1919 HOLDS

THE FUNDAMENTAL PLACE IN THE MALTESE

NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS. THE PROTESTS

ENDED IN TRAGEDY: SEVERAL INSURGENTS

WERE SHOT DEAD BY THE BRITISH TROOPS IN

VALLETTA.

28 ICE SHOW • JESTERS’ WEDDING

Jesters’

Wedding

MALTA’S FIRST ICE SHOW PRODUCTION

COURT INTRIGUES, LOVE AND WORLD-CLASS ICE-SKATING STARS IN A

SHOW DEDICATED TO ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS EPISODES IN

RUSSIAN HISTORY DURING THE REIGN OF EMPRESS ANNA IOANNOVNA.

“JESTERS’ WEDDING”, THE FIRST ICE SHOW IN MALTA’S HISTORY, WILL

PREMIERE ON THE ISLAND ON 13 DECEMBER 2019. THIS SHOW IS AN

ADAPTATION OF THE “CRYSTAL PALACE” BALLET TO THE MUSIC OF

ALEXEY SHOR, A CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN-MALTESE COMPOSER.

HOW IS THE UNIQUE FESTIVAL OF ICE AND MUSIC CREATED? THE

ORGANISERS OF THE FAIRY TALE ON ICE SPEAK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF

PREPARING THE SHOW.

ICE SHOW • JESTERS’ WEDDING

#1 • 2019

Karl Borg

PROJECT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR,

IS IN CHARGE OF THE OVERALL PREPARATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT: LIGHTING, SOUND, THE ICE, SETTING

UP THE PLATFORM … IN A WORD, HE TRANSFORMS THE ORGANISERS’ INNOVATIVE IDEAS INTO REALITY:

“My company has, for several years, been preparing large-scale events and I can confidently

say that the platform we are creating for the ice show that is shortly to become one of

Malta’s major events is 55 metres wide and 60 metres long. It will accommodate the sets, the

revolving stage for the opera diva, the ice field, audience seating and lighting equipment.

Fourteen companies are involved in the preparations. Over 70 people in total will work on the

platform at different times. It will take a month to build the entire complex. The ice surface

will be installed over five days. Four refrigerators will be used to prepare the ice area, the ice

will be installed in layers and we will ultimately have over ten centimetres of ice.

Specialists from Germany will come to work on the ice surface. Several trailer trucks will

transport the requisite equipment. At the same time, even more trailer trucks will set out

from Russia carrying stage sets for the show, while our local team will be preparing the

platform with all the necessary utilities.

“The auditorium” will seat over 1,000 people. So, we will have one of Malta’s largest platforms,

lighting, sets with an abundance of complex elements and, certainly, the ice… Preparing

such a large-scale project is an incredible experience for us. This is a great inspiration for

everyone working on the show!”

Alexey Yagudin

2002 OLYMPIC CHAMPION, FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMPION, THREE-TIME EUROPEAN CHAMPION, TWO-TIME

WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION, WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION, PARTICIPANT IN AND HOST OF FAMOUS

TV SHOWS (“STARS ON ICE”, “THE ICE AGE”, BOLERO DANCE SHOW), ACTOR, HOST OF TV PROGRAMMES ON

THE LIVING PLANET, CHANNEL ONE, MATCH TV, TNT BELARUS TV CHANNELS, A REGULAR ON ILYA AVERBUKH’S

ICE SHOW.

“Malta will see me as Balakirev. He is a court jester. But… every jest contains a grain of truth.

And Anna Ioannovna herself marks her jester’s words. Balakirev can do as he pleases. He

lords it over the other jesters. In today’s parlance, he is the boss. I like this part because it’s

so contradictory: my character can act like a clown, doing things few people are allowed to.

At the same time, he is part of the Empress’s inner circle: to some degree, he has influence

over everything that goes on in the country. Alexey Shor wrote classical ballet music and,

transferring it on to ice is a terrific challenge. Our task is to keep the audience on the edge

of their seats from the word go until the final note. And we are doing absolutely everything

to achieve just that, including providing unique sets, costumes and special effects. This will

be a riot of colours bolstering the effects of the music! After all our ice shows, “Romeo and

Juliet,” “Carmen,” and others, we want to do something even better each time…”

30 ICE SHOW • JESTERS’ WEDDING

Vadim Volya and Olga-Maria Tumakova

COSTUME DESIGNERS, “GOLDEN MASK” AWARD WINNERS, ARE INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC

AND PAINTINGS TO CREATE THE MOST STUNNING COSTUMES FOR THE ICE SHOW:

“When working on the costumes for the ‘Jesters’ Wedding’ ice show on Malta, the key thing

for us is to create the historical context. We depict the age of Anna Ioannovna and we need

the audience to understand it. We used paintings as our inspiration. We did this because

the audiences mostly know the baroque esthetics that define the period from contemporary

paintings. Of course, we will have to do without crinolines, for instance, because they are

not particularly compatible with the skaters’ consummate proficiency! Wigs and makeup

are also a problem in this respect but we will have some wigs.

An important feature of ice show costumes is they need to be easily transformable. Skates

prevent skaters from changing fully: the skates always stay on because there is no time to

re-lace them! So some costume elements are taken off and put on to create a new image

each and every time.

The music for the show certainly inspires us in designing the costumes. It is very important

that we perceive the work as an integral whole, particularly its musical component. We are

making several dozen costumes for the ice show, and each must be a work of art.”

Nina Kobiashvili

SET DESIGNER FOR THE “JESTERS’ WEDDING” ICE SHOW,

GRADUATE OF CENTRAL SAINT MARTIN’S ARTS AND DESIGN COLLEGE, UK:

“In designing the sets for Ilya Averbukh’s ‘Jesters’ Wedding’ ice show, I was guided both by

the historical materials from Empress Anna Ioannovna’s reign and by Alexey Shor’s music

for ‘Crystal Palace.’

Our creative group studied the recording of the ballet’s performance at the Kremlin Palace

in Moscow and we made adjustments for the entirely different speed and choreography of

the emotions and actions on ice.

A careful study was made of materials about the coronation of Empress Anna, about her

relations with the members of the imperial court, the aristocracy, and the contributions

made to development of opera and ballet at the time.

The contemporary interpretations of the Triumphal Arch celebrating Anna Ioannovna’s

coronation and of the 1740 Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, built on the orders of the Empress,

were created on the basis of historical engravings and descriptions.

The central part of the set is Anna Ioannovna’s crown, designed like a Faberge egg: it has

a mechanism that allows it to open and close. It serves as a symbolic association with St.

Petersburg and, together with the revolving platform, is used to mark the change of scenes

in the show. At the same time, the crown that opens and closes with Anna Ioannovna inside,

like a puppet, is an interpretation of the image of the Empress trapped by her own power.

The intrigues of the jesters and their impact on political events are a separate topic. The sets

feature a composition that represents an arch with gigantic arms springing from jesters’ hats

and meant to pull the strings of the puppet. As the show goes on, the question remains:

who rules whom? Does Anna rule the jesters or do they rule her?”

FRIDAY • 13 th DECEMBER 2019 • 7 PM

INDEPENDENCE ARENA PARADE GROUND, FLORIANA

TATIANA

TOTMYANINA

LOVER,

JESTER

DUNKA

MAXIM

MARININ

LOVER,

JESTER

GOLITSYN

ALEXEY

YAGUDIN

JESTER

BALAKIREV

EKATERINA

BOBROVA

EMPRESS

ANNA

IOANNOVNA

DMITRY SOLO-

VYOV

EMPRESS’S LOVER

JESTER BIRON

IVAN

RIGHINI

COURT

GENTLEMEN

ANNA

AGLATOVA

DIGITAL PROJECTIONS • NATURAL ICE

Jesters’ Wedding

FIRST EVER

OPERA

DIVA

IN MALTA

WITH MUSIC BY AMERICAN-MALTESE COMPOSER ALEXEY SHOR

S T A R R I N G

WORLD, OLYMPIC GAMES AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, TOP-INTERNATIONAL

COMPETITIONS WINNERS & LEADING OPERA SOLOIST OF BOLSHOI THEATRE OF RUSSIA

ORIGINAL PLOT, BAROQUE SCENERY

AND CHIC COSTUMES!

TICKETS: SHOWSHAPPENING.COM • INFO: +356 27-87-77-05

Public Broadcasting Services Limited

Public Broadcasting Services Limited

32 DAYS OF MALTESE MUSIC

Days of Maltese Music

IN ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN AND RUSSIA

THE PROJECT ‘DAYS OF MALTESE MUSIC’SPEARHEADED BY THE EUROPEAN

FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORT OF CULTURE HAS ENTERED ITS SECOND YEAR. IN

2018, MALTESE MUSICIANS PERFORMED IN CONCERT HALLS WITHIN THE RUSSIAN

FEDERATION AND THIS YEAR THE PROJECT WAS EXTENDED TO ARMENIA AND

KAZAKHSTAN, APART FROM RUSSIA.

Days of Maltese Music 2019 featured Maltese

conductors and instrumentalists in various

countries. Violinists Carmine Lauri, Reggie Clews

and pianist Bernice Sammut Attard performed

in the Capital of Armenia, with concerts held in

Yerevan in March 2019, during which a premiere of Joseph

Vella’s Symphonic Poem “Rebbieha” (“The Victorious”) was

performed. The late Joseph Vella symbolic within Malta’s

musical culture.

During the month of May 2019 Maltese trombonist Roderick

Bugeja, pianist Bernice Attard, and conductor Alexei Galea

Cavallazzi were welcomed at prominent concert venues

in the capital of the sun-drenched Republic, Nur Sultan,

in Kazakhstan to perform with the Eurasian Symphony

Orchestra.

Russia hosted Days of Maltese Music with concerts in twelve

different cities, featuring conductors Alan Chircop and Alexei

Galea Cavallazzi; and clarinettist Godfrey Mifsud, pianist

Charlene Farrugia and Trombonist Roderick Bugeja in eight

different cities, which included Sochi, Ryazan, Omsk, Barnaul,

Astrakhan, Chelyabinsk, Petrozavodsk and Saratov.

Days of Maltese Music in Russia – 2019 were organized by

the European Foundation for Support of Culture, the

International Cultural Foundation and the Association for

Support of Cultural and Commercial Initiatives (APKI), with

the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Malta in Russia,

which started on 25 May and will continue until 15 December.

The project has proved to be an excellent example of work

intended to bring together musical talents from different

countries on one stage and create further bridges between

Malta and the Nations which hosted these concerts. We have

spoken to some of the Maltese musicians who participated

in this project, who shared their views and experiences with

MyMAC Magazine.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019

Alan Chircop

“The true purpose

of music is to

unite people”

Maltese orchestra conductor Alan Chircop

combines an international career in music

with his artistic direction engagements of the

European Foundation for Support of Culture. He

has been conducting international orchestras

in many different countries for more than 20 years and has

frequently performed in Russia. In 2019, he featured in concerts

within the Days of Maltese Music project. He describes how

music brings countries closer and about the national psyches

of Russia and Malta.

What is the importance of the ‘Days of Maltese Music in

Russia’ project? How should this collaboration between

musicians from different countries continue?

This is a very important project from the point of view of

enhancing and maintaining relations between our countries.

The Russian school, in music, has always been very well- known

for its high standards. For the past fifteen years, I have been

involved in presenting Russian virtuosi to Maltese audiences,

and in my capacity as artistic director of the European

Foundation for Support of Culture, I have been taking an

even more active part in developing different projects with

the participation of Russian artists.

I have always felt both the mutual connection between us,

musicians, and the social characteristics of the audiences of

our countries. This musical collaboration has given me many

opportunities to get a better feel of the traditions of Russia,

the unique cultural features, and to appreciate what we have

in common – despite the great difference in size of these two

nations.

The audiences in Russia are very warm and at my concerts

in Russia I have always felt this special warm reception. It’s

very nice to often hear comments, like ‘discovering or getting

acquainted with Maltese musicians helped Russians discover

Malta’. In this way, we act as Malta’s cultural ambassadors.

Such joint musical projects are tremendously important as

they enhance the relations that already exist and but also

enable new connections. This is the true purpose, beauty and

power of music – to unite people.

Delighted Russian audiences show their lively interest, not only

in music, but also in getting to know more about Malta. So,

seeing the Maltese performing in Russia, listening to them and

talking to them, is something which Russians really enjoy and

appreciate. Our countries have mutual respect and appreciation

towards each other. Thus we feel very welcomed in Russia.

There are obvious geographical differences between

Russia and Malta. Yet the national psyches of Russia and

Malta have a lot in common. How is this affinity manifested

in music?

I’ve always believed that culture is not a ‘behaviour’. Culture

is a ‘lifestyle – a way of living’. Despite the geographical

differences you noted, people are the same everywhere. They

adapt their ‘lifestyle’ to their environment and circumstances.

I think Russians and Maltese have many things in common:

respect for traditions, tolerance, humility, the ability to be

grateful and the capacity to adapt to new circumstances,

which is usually ascribed to islanders. I’ve always felt that

Russians are very hospitable, while our tourism industry

boasts on this very same characteristic of the Maltese people.

The contemporary American-Maltese composer Alexey

Shor whose works you performed as part of the project,

lived and studied in Moscow for several years. Do you think

it influenced the language of his music?

In many respects, music reflects a composer’s life experience.

This, in turn, depends on your environment. Becoming

acquainted with Russia makes it possible to identify one’s self

with the specific features of Russian composers’ works. I agree

that, in that regard, Alexey Shor has a rich range of ideas. The

time he spent in Russia surely had a significant influence on

his work. Yet, Alexey Shor’s music reflects the Maltese mindset

too; he is also inspired by the history of our island, such as

the Great Siege; and also by contemporary events, such as

the loss of the Azure Window in Gozo. Alexey Shor’s music is

very touching, moving, sincere and lucent. Audiences easily

identify themselves with the composer. He communicates

with his audiences in a language that everyone can feel and

understand.

Are there works featured in ‘Days of Maltese Music in

Russia’ that are particularly congenial to you?

I find the music of Charles Camilleri and Joseph Vella particularly

appealing when performing abroad, as I knew both of them

since I was a young lad. We were good friends and I enjoyed

a very close and respectful relationship with both. Thus I

have a special insight into their music, specifically since most

works I performed, had been discussed with the composers

themselves, at different stages of my career. So it’s more than

just performing a work. There are many memories which allow

you to interpret their works at a more profound level.


Carmine Lauri

“I’ve been so looking forward

to going to Armenia!”

IN APRIL 2018, VIOLINIST CARMINE LAURI WAS

THE SOLOIST AT THE 6 TH MALTA INTERNATIONAL

MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMING WITH THE

ARMENIA STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

A YEAR LATER, HE AGAIN TOOK THE STAGE

WITH THE ORCHESTRA, THIS TIME IN YEREVAN,

AS PART OF THE “DAYS OF MALTESE MUSIC IN

ARMENIA” PROJECT.

“This is my first time in Armenia. I’ve been so looking

forward to coming here. Last year, I performed twice in

Malta as the soloist with the Armenia State Symphony

Orchestra. I admired the orchestra and working with its

principal conductor, Sergey Smbatyan, was a pleasure. Back

then, I already told my colleagues that I wanted to travel to

Armenia. And now it has happened thanks to the ‘Days of

Maltese Music in Armenia’ project, and I hope we will work

together again many times in the future. The Armenia State

Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic orchestra, its musicians

are consummate professionals and wonderful people. I often

perform contemporary music; I know works by Armenian

composers. I believe, in particular, that the works of Aram

Khachaturian are amazing. I think Khachaturian for Armenians

is what Tchaikovsky is for Russians.”

I think Khachaturian for Armenians

is what Tchaikovsky is for Russians.

Violinist Carmine Lauri,

one of Malta’s most

famous musicians,

has, since 2000,

been one of the

concertmasters of the

London Philharmonic;

he has also been guest

concertmaster of the

Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra.

In 2006, Carmine

Lauri was awarded

the National Order

of Merit and, in 2015,

the Gold Medal of

the Malta Society of

Arts in recognition

of his outstanding

international career.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019

Reggie Clews

“The Maltese and Armenians

adore music…”

THE CO-CONCERTMASTER OF THE MALTA

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, VIOLINIST REGGIE

CLEWS, BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE

MORE PROJECTS SUCH AS “DAYS OF MALTESE

MUSIC”: THIS IS THE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF

MALTA AND ARMENIA TO GET TO KNOW ONE

ANOTHER BETTER.

“Since we represent a small country, such events are very

important for us. ‘Days of Maltese Music in Armenia’ expands

the area of collaboration between our two countries, makes

cultural diplomacy and exchanges vivid and intense. Armenia

clearly values its culture very highly. Armenia has many

talented artists who are in demand throughout the world and

who have an excellent musical education. In my collaboration

with Armenian musicians, I have noted their love of music and

their disciplined approach to rehearsals.

Malta may be lacking a large musical education network or a

big selection of artists. Even so, we adore music and we are

very earnest about our work, just like Armenian musicians.

It is very important for us to be open to the world and I think

that Malta and Armenia are close in that regard. We like

exchanging ideas, as this is conducive to overall development

of Malta and Armenia. I am curious to know what Armenian

audiences think about Maltese musicians and composers!”

Violinist Reggie Сlews,

currently assistant

concertmaster with

the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra, has toured half

the world. In addition to

being a musician with

the Malta Philharmonic,

Reggie Clews also gives

solo concerts, holds

master classes, and sits on

jury panels of international

competitions; he is cofounder

of the Malta Fine

Instrument Society. In

addition to his musical

achievements, he holds

an Associate of Science

degree in business

administration.

It is very important

for us to be open

to the world and

I think that Malta

and Armenia

are close in that

regard.


Roderick

Bugeja

“The audiences

liked

the folklore

of Malta…”

Roderick Bugeja, principal

trombone of the Malta

Philharmonic Orchestra,

began studying music at

the age of eight: he went

to the Johann Strauss

School of Music in Valletta

and the Pinto Band

music club in Qormi. At

that time, Roderick took

part in several national

competitions organised

by the Malta Band Club

Association and Malta

Society of Arts. Later,

Roderick Bugeja began

playing the alto. In addition

to his collaboration with

the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra, Roderick

Bugeja heads the Vittoria

Band club (Naxxar),

composes music and

enjoys aerial sports in the

time he has left after his

musical activities.

A

piece of traditional Maltese music performed

on the trombone and Rimsky-Korsakov’s music:

Roderick Bugeja, the Malta Philharmonic

Orchestra’s principal trombone, speaks about

his most vivid impressions from the concerts in

Kazakhstan

What do you think is the significance of the ‘Days of

Maltese Music’ project in general and of ‘Days of Maltese

Music in Kazakhstan’ in particular?

Every country has its own unique performance features.

Even when performers remain faithful to what the composer

intended, their interpretations vary, depending on the

culture and on the musical background of the performance.

This project allowed us professional musicians to share what

our countries can offer in the rich range of classical music.

It is not often, for instance, that the Maltese and Kazakhs

can share their ideas and interests in the world of music.

The ‘Days of Maltese Music in Kazakhstan’ project helped

me, as a Maltese performer, and the Eurasian Symphony

Orchestra made up of promising Kazakh musicians, to

form a creative tandem and share the realities of the world

of music. Working with Kazakh musicians, I enjoyed the

rigor and discipline that are typical for their work with

pieces of music. I will use the experience I derived from

this collaboration in my work. This project enriched me as

a musician. And I believe that, in turn, I also influenced the

Kazakh orchestra and our audiences.

Why was it so important to present the works of Maltese

musicians in various countries?

Malta is a small island in the Mediterranean and a melting pot

of different cultures. The musicians in our orchestra hail from

around the world and they introduce a richness and variety

of styles to our performances. Our orchestra is very openminded

and it has allowed me to perform Nikolay Rimsky-

Korsakov’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, which is

rather unusual for an orchestra, because the piano or the

violin are the traditional soloists.

Working with such a large number of talented musicians

expands your horizons. While remaining faithful to the essence

of classical music, Maltese musicians have the gift of being

flexible and diverse. Although our national orchestra is only

50 years old, it has succeeded in achieving a high level as a

philharmonic orchestra, because our rich cultural history goes

back thousands of years.

This cultural history developed a profound love for the arts

in our artists’ souls. This quality has allowed us to succeed

in both local performances and abroad, at such prestigious

venues as Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic and the

Grand Hall of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory.

When we are invited to perform as conductors or soloists,

we can convey our musical culture to the orchestra we are

working with.

I have tried to do this by arranging a piece of Malta’s folklore

for the trombone for my encore performance. I think it was

very well received.

Are there works on the concert programme that you find

particularly pleasing and why do you relate to them?”

I’ve always been drawn to Russian composers, to Russian

music. And this determined my choice: I selected a work by

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov. This work, initially written for wind

orchestra and soloists, has an excellent melodic line and it

is also a challenge for the soloist, who, in turn, is enriched

through both studying and performing it. This piece puts

technique, sound, articulation and expression at the fore.

I just love the folklore of Malta. It developed when my country

was going through difficult times. It was an honour and a

pleasure for me to give the audiences in Kazakhstan and

Russia a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the

history and culture of Malta.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019


“It is very interesting for me to perform in those

countries where we have no other language

in common save for the language of music…”

In March 2019, 18-year-old pianist Bernice

Sammut Attard performed at a concert

in Yerevan and, in a few weeks, she

was welcomed to Nur-Sultan (Astana),

the capital of Kazakhstan. In October,

Bernice travelled to Astrakhan and Ryazan

in Russia.

So, the ‘Days of Maltese Music in Armenia’

project and then Kazakhstan and Russia.

Do you feel that you are an ambassador

of the Maltese culture?”

Since I’ve have studied in the UK, I’ve

always felt an ambassador of my culture. It

is a great honour for me to represent Malta

at the ‘Days of Maltese Culture’ project.

Malta is a very small country and sometimes

people do not know about this island,

which is a pity… It’s an island with a rich

and ancient culture.

Nonetheless, the world of music is very

small… And I think that, as Maltese

musicians travel around the world, they

meet other musicians and show the music

they can offer and learn about the music

other countries can offer.

It is very interesting for me to perform in

those countries where we have no other

language in common save for the language

of music. This was the case in Armenia, in

Kazakhstan and in Russia. A concert is

a time of true communication with the

people of any country.”

What impressions do you have of the

concerts?”

This has been my first time in these

countries: in Armenia, in Kazakhstan

and in Russia! Of course, Kazakhstan and

Russia are very big compared to Malta.

I was tremendously impressed. I have

wonderful memories of collaborating

with the orchestras of those countries.

I enjoyed this experience of making

music!”


grew up in a musical family.

She started studying music

at the age of seven. Bernice

graduated from St Martin’s

College with honours

and then was admitted

to one of the UK’s most

famous schools of music:

Chetham’s School of

Music in Manchester. After

graduating from Chetham’s

School, she enrolled in

the Royal Conservatoire

of Scotland in Glasgow.

The young performer

reached the semi-finals

of the Eurovision Young

Musicians 2018 with an

audience numbering in the

millions.


Alexei Galea

Cavallazzi

“This is certainly

a very important

stage in the history

of Russia-Malta

relations!”

Сonductor Alexei Galea Cavallazzi, a graduate of The Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatoire.

Was awarded the “Federation Council. 20 Years” medal for his contribution to development of

Russia-Malta cultural ties. In 2018, the Tyumen Philharmonic Orchestra inaugurated Days of

Maltese Music in Russia with the “Malta-Siberia: Music Unites” concert. This year, Alexei Galea

Cavallazzi has participated in the concerts of the Days of Maltese Music project in Kazakhstan

and Russia.

in Russia than in Malta. The

‘Days of Maltese Music in Russia’

project is in its second year and

you are taking part in it again.

What makes this project unique?

What is the project’s particular

importance for you?”

This project is certainly a very

important stage in the history of

Russia-Malta relations. This is the

first cultural programme organised

on such a large scale and featuring

classical orchestral masterpieces.

This programme allows Russian

and Maltese musicians to meet to

create something special.

Besides, I like being in Russia, in

the country where I studied. I have

nice memories connecting me

with Russia.

Do audiences perceive music

differently in different countries?

Talking about audiences is difficult.

Certainly, for the artist, the audiences

can seem to be the same… It

means that we think the audiences

energise us, that they received our

performance very well, etc. And

there is some truth in this. Yet, in

fact, every person perceives music

differently… This is why the word

‘audience’ is both true and false at

the same time.

Ovations at the end of a

performance are very gratifying for

the performer. The life of the artist

is full of self-sacrifice for the sake

of art and ovations mean this life is

not meaningless, they mean that

the tremendous work the artist had

done deserved appreciation from the

audiences. Of course, not only work

matters, talent does, too. Work can

be described in simple terms. Talent

is a great mystery; one can only be

silent about it. I enjoy performing in

Russia, in Malta, and in Kazakhstan.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019

Godfrey Mifsud

“This project offers the

Maltese musicians the

opportunity of being

cultural ambassadors

for their nation and

to promote Maltese

culture abroad”

Within the project Godfrey

Mifsud performed in

Sochi,Russia in September

and now is looking forward

to his performance in

Saratov, Russia in December.

In your personal opinion, what is the

significance of the project “Days of

Maltese Music”?

I believe that the true essence of this project

is the pure enhancement of the intercultural

dialogue between different countries,

through a common medium – music. This

project offers the Maltese musicians the

opportunity of being cultural ambassadors

for their nation and to promote Maltese

culture abroad. On the other hand,

the Maltese public is being given the

opportunity of attending concerts and

listening to world-class foreign performers

and musical works in Malta.

How was your concert in Sochi? Have you

ever dreamed of Touring in Russia?

The concert experience in Sochi was a very

positive one. I have had the opportunity to

perform in various countries and venues

around the globe, also in Russia, but this was

my first time in Sochi. The place is beautiful

and especially at the time when I visited

(September), it was full of life, since it is a

seaside resort. The staff and director of the

Organ Hall where the concert took place

were welcoming and even though at times

there might have been a slight language

barrier, this was very easily overcome through

music. The Sochi Symphony Orchestra under

the direction of Oleg Soldatov was very easy

to work with. It boasts of a nice group of

musicians with whom I found very much at

ease to work with.

Professional exchange: have you gained

any experience from Russian musicians

and what useful clews you left for the

orchestra? Do you think that the music

language unites nations?

As mentioned briefly above, the work

interaction with the Sochi Symphony

Orchestra was quite fluent, since we all

focused on the music that was being

delivered and all the language barriers

were easily overcome. After all, a musician’s

issues and experiences can be similar,

immaterial where one is situated. I was

pleased that, one of the works that I

performed (Fantasia on Rigoletto – Bassi),

which was a special arrangement by a

great musician and friend of mine Freddie

Mizzi (also a clarinet player) was a new

work for the orchestra. The reaction was

very positive, the musicians seemed to

enjoy performing it and were curious to

ask questions about it after the rehearsal.

On the other hand, I took some of the CD’s

which I recorded, that feature Maltese

works for clarinet, and these seemed to

create a lot of interest, since most of the

musicians were not familiar with our local

musical heritage and oeuvres.

Godfrey Mifsud started

his musical studies

in Malta at an early

age and furthered his

clarinet studies in UK

while participating in

master classes with

international soloists.

After winning various

local competitions he

made his public debut

with the Malta National

Orchestra in

1997. He has performed

and recorded works

by Maltese composers

including Carmelo Pace,

Charles

Camilleri, Joseph

Vella and upcoming

composers including

Ruben Zahra, Albert

Pace, Albert Garzia,

Gordon Zammit and

Karl Fiorini.

Godfrey Mifsud currently

holds the post of clarinet

tutor at Malta’s main

music institution, the

Malta School of Music

and is a visiting lecturer

in Performance Studies

at the University of

Malta.

40 MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE

Pierre Fenech

MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE CEO

We Will Present an

MCC Virtual Museum

THE 16 TH CENTURY BUILDING OF THE LEGENDARY KNIGHTS’ HOSPITAL,

WHICH IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO FORT ST ELMO AND OVERLOOKS

THE GRAND HARBOUR, HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF VALLETTA’S MOST

OUTSTANDING LANDMARKS. SINCE 1979, THE PLACE HAS BEEN WELL-

KNOWN AS THE MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE, WHICH IS

CONSIDERED ONE OF MALTA’S MOST FAMOUS CONCERT AND BUSINESS

VENUES. HOW WILL THE MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE USE

THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE TO RESURRECT THE PAST? MCC’S

CEO PIERRE FENECH REVEALS THE SECRET ON MY MAC MAGAZINE.

MCC • VIRTUAL MUSEUM

#1 • 2019

Everyone in Malta knows the history of

the MCC, which was built in 16 th century

to become one of the best hospitals

in Europe. Currently, we know it as a

conference and concert centre. Can you

share with us MCC’s future plans?

We can divide the future into three aspects.

We have normal operation of the MCC as

a conference centre and, in the past few

years, with the help of investments, we have

made a lot of infrastructural and technical

changes like installing a Wi-Fi system,

upgrading the sound system… And all the

old air-conditioners have been replaced

with new ones, reducing noise and air

pollution. We have invested a lot of money

in changing the infrastructure for the latest

technology. And we will continue this work.

Then we have a second aspect touching on

the cultural sector. We invest in the theatre:

we have big plans and high expectations for

it. We don’t want just some refurbishment,

there will be a complete renovation.

Currently, we have a lot of events already

booked for the next two years, which is why

this renovation work will start only in 2022.

For 2021, we will host the 10 th edition of the

Malta International Music Festival, which

is organised by the European Foundation

Support of Culture and Cirque du Soleil,

another top-notch event for us.

And finally, the third aspect will be

something new for MCC. Every day we have

a lot of visitors who keep asking us what our

building was used for in the past.

We thought: what can we do to show

people our history? The first thing that

comes to mind, of course, is a museum. And

yes, we already have one. It is the Knights

Hospitallers museum. But obviously, the

limited space can’t accommodate in all the

visitors coming here or people come when

the museum is closed. That’s why we have

decided to inaugurate a Virtual Museum

using modern technology.

We will create a hologram of Grandmaster

Jean Parisot de la Valette. The excursion will

start in the La Vallette Hall and people will be

able to speak to him and ask questions such

as: how he built Valletta, what was his vision,

why he constructed the city in a certain way…

He will answer all of them.

Then you can move to other MCC halls, walk

around and, using your mobile phone, you

will be able actually to see what was here

hundreds of years ago. And not only see: you

will be able to engage and join in … You can

even explore how hospitaller knights treated

patients, lie in a bed and take a real photo

with patients and knights and post it on your

social media. We will use a Virtual Reality

(VR) system for the new museum.

Then we have a roof that is being used as

an independent venue that we have recently

inaugurated. By the way, the roof is also a

part of the Virtual Reality museum: we will

have a recreation from the time of the Great

Siege of Malta (1565) – visitors will see knights

travelling from Kalkara to St Angelo. Also, in

the sky, people will be able to see Second

World War aircraft coming to bombard

Malta. And we will do it more interactively

so our visitors can actually use gamification

to try to shoot down the aircrafts and see

them falling into the sea.

Besides, from the roof of MCC using GPS

JEAN PARISOT DE LA VALETTE

“THEN WE HAVE A ROOF THAT IS

BEING USED AS AN INDEPENDENT

VENUE THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY

INAUGURATED.”

42 MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE

technology and a mobile app, our visitors will be able to see

different places around the Grand Harbour; the electronic

guide will show the places in VR and tell their history.

In front of the MCC there was the Chapel of Bones but it was

destroyed during the Second World War. You can find just a

few rocks from the foundations there but we will use 3D reality

to recreate the Chapel. So our virtual museum is something

new and we are going to present it soon, in January/February

2020. The presentation will close our celebration season 19/20

of the MCC’s 40 th anniversary.

I assume that such an old building has a lot of secrets and

mysteries, right?

It was quite “unexpected” when we have found a new

underground floor during the Temi Zammit Hall renovation

works (laughing). We immediately got in touch with the

Heritage Authority and Planning Authority to see how we

could restore this place for further use. It is a very sensitive

place so we have to be very careful now and lots of research

needs to be done to explore the floor properly.

Originally, the hospital had three floors, though people know

just about two of them. We have a Sacra Infermeria, which

is on the street level; under this, we have La Vallett Hall and

below we have another level that is just a few metres above

the sea. Historically, the top level was used for the elite, for

the knights; another one, La Vallett, was used for the common

people and one level below was for prisoners and slaves. We

will make a reconstruction of the three levels.

How will you implement such a big plan for reconstruction

of the building and creation of the VR-museum?

Next year, the physical museum will be closing down for

refurbishment. We will do some upgrades connecting the

MCC and Fort Saint Elmo so that the museum will be located

between these two places. This year, we have some areas

inside that are already closed for construction works but the

MCC is still operating. We will do our work step by step.

What kind of reconstruction will be carried out in the

concert hall?

As I said, we don’t want to do just cosmetic changes; our aim

goes beyond just changing the chairs or carpets. The main

renovation process will affect the mechanism of the stage:

it will be able to change automatically from a seating to a

standing area, tailor-made, all automatic. We saw a system

similar to the one we want to install in Moscow, in the Zaryadye

Hall, and the transformation process is really impressive. We

want to do the same here.

The Christmas season is coming. Could you announce any

upcoming events?

We are expecting the Cirque du Soleil, which we will host for

the first time, and they are doing a show specifically for Malta.

We signed an agreement with Cirque du Soleil for three years,

so it is not just a one-off event. For us, it is very important

collaboration.

What is the biggest challenge for you in this work for the

Mediterranean Conference Centre?

The biggest challenge is to find a balance between the

cultural and business parts in the life of the MCC but I think

we manage the balance quite well. We need to know how to

grow the place, we need more space and the government is

considering that we might take a new place to manage for

conference and cultural events. So, in the future, this area in

Valletta will be a big cultural hub

MAKE SURE YOUR EVENT LEAVES A LASTING

IMPRESSION

The historical Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta offers you a vast range of venues

where you can celebrate your corporate event - be it inside or outside. Choose from our centuriesrich

indoor venues, steeped in character and beauty, or opt to go for the lavish novelty of our

rooftop terrace - a state-of-the-art outdoor space with unbeatable views of the Grand Harbour.

Either way, you would have certainly selected the perfect venue for your event.

Valletta, Malta • T: +356 2559 5215 • sales@mcc.com.mt • www.mcc.com.mt

MEDITERRANEAN

CONFERENCE CENTRE 1979

2019


Mary Ann Cauchi

DIRECTOR FOR FUNDING AND STRATEGY AT THE ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

We work to support

the cultural and

creative sectors

in Malta

WHAT IS MALTA

PRESENTING AT THE

VENICE BIENNALE 2019?

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED

FOR THE ‘IL-PREMJU

GĦALL-ARTI’? HOW CAN

LOCAL ARTISTS FIND

SUPPORT FOR THEIR

PROJECTS? DIRECTOR

FOR FUNDING AND

STRATEGY AT THE ARTS

COUNCIL MALTA, MARY

ANN CAUCHI ANSWERS

THE QUESTIONS.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019

THE PAVILION RECEIVED CRITICAL ACCLAIM BY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS IN THE VISUAL ARTS FIELD. PREPARATIONS

FOR THE NEXT EDITION HAVE ALREADY STARTED. IN ADDITION, ACM IS ALSO PREPARING ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE LONDON

DESIGN BIENNALE 2022.

MARY ANN CAUCHI

DIRECTOR FOR FUNDING AND STRATEGY AT THE ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

Throughout her career, Mary Ann held various positions in the cultural and creative sectors. Previous to

her current appointment as Director Funding and Strategy. she was Head of the Malta School of Music

where she designed internal and external school policies and updated the teaching and learning processes

amongst other duties; she led and implemented the accreditation of all courses at European level. For ten

years, Mary Ann directed her company Artsphere International, based in Malta with international networks.

During this time, she gained a strong reputation for her project consultation expertise, as well as for

management and artistic direction of concerts, festivals and large-scale public celebrations, including

the first edition of the Malta Children’s Festival, the European Year of Creativity and Innovation and the

revamping of the Premju Nazzjonali Ħaddiem tas-Sena. Prior to that, Mary Ann worked at the Malta Council

for Culture and the Arts, where she founded Notte Bianca Lejl Imdawwal and worked on numerous largescale

artistic and cultural events. She administered the initial arts funding programme, the Cultural Support

Programme. Mary Ann holds a Master of Philosophy in Musicology and a Bachelor of Arts with distinction

in Music Studies and History of Art from the University of Malta. She has experience in the performing

arts, particularly as a musician


This year, Il-Premju għall-Arti’s nomination system

is more accessible whereby the public may submit

nominations of their preferred artists and artistic

works.

What is your personal role in the Arts Council Malta

and what is the structure of the organisation?

I have been working as Director, Funding and Strategy,

at the Arts Council Malta (ACM) for the past year. It is

a comeback for me because I used to work here as an

Art Executive 13 years ago.

Through its funding unit, ACM manages a public

investment of €2 million per year. The strategy

unit manages and overseas the implementation

of the Create2020 strategy. Create2020 is based

on five important pillars focusing on creativity,

artistic excellence, internationalisation,

community engagement and public cultural

organisations.

The Arts Council Malta’s remit encompasses 11

Public Cultural Organisations, including Festivals

Malta, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, KorMalta,

Mediterranean Conference Centre, Malta

International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS),

Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Spazju Kreattiv, Teatru Malta,

Teatru Manoel, Valletta Cultural Agency and

ŻfinMalta – the National Dance Company.

What are the main goals of the Arts Council Malta?

Arts Council Malta has five main goals: 1) nurturing the

creative potential and support for its development;

2) investing in artistic excellence; 3) connecting

Malta to the international artistic community; 4)

providing more opportunities for people to engage

in creativity; and 5) building the capacity of public

cultural organisations.

These five goals are implemented using specific

strategic tools being Internationalisation, Education

and Development, Creative Industries Diversity and

Communities, Funding and Brokerage, Research,

Communication and EU Projects.

As part of the internationalisation strategic tool, ACM

is currently a member of 7 platforms and networks

including: International Federation for Arts Councils

and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), EU National Institutions

for Culture (EUNIC), the Compendium for Cultural

Policies and Trends, IETM – International Network

for Contemporary Performing Arts, Salzburg Global

Forum, and ENCATC – European Network on Cultural

Management and Policy.

INTERVIEW

#1 • 2019

IETM, for instance is a network of over 450

performing arts organisations and individual

members working in the contemporary performing

arts worldwide: theatre, dance, circus, performance,

interdisciplinary live art forms, new media. This

offers the possibility for artists to build new

connections with the international counterparts.

ACM’s membership in such a network and those

mentioned also means that Malta is represented

in the ongoing debates and conversations on

matters that impact cultural policy and practice.

ACM already supported six participants from Malta

to attend Salzburg Global Forum. The latter forum

offers an opportunity for training, master-classes

and conferences, allowing our artists to promote

and develop their projects.

Where does Malta present the creations of local

artists?

In 2017, Malta has returned to the Venice Biennale

after 17 years. Arts Council Malta commissioned

and co-ordinated the 2019 Venice Biennale. The

Malta Pavilion Maleth/Haven/Port – Heterotopias of

Evocation, commissioned by the Arts Council Malta

and curated by Hesperia Iliadou, was inspired by the

Odyssey and saw three artists from Malta – Vince

Briffa, Klitsa Antoniou and Trevor Borg. The Pavilion

received critical acclaim by local and international

experts in the visual arts field. Preparations for the

next edition have already started. In addition, ACM is

also preparing its participation in the London Design

Biennale 2022. The latter projects all form part of

reaching our Internationalisation goals.

How do you work with Education and Development

programmes?

Amongst other initiatives such as Artivisti and Young

Artists’ Development Programme, ACM organised

monthly workshops and talks under the ACMlab

series. This is Arts Council Malta’s regular platform

for information, networking and matchmaking

sessions, as well as discussions and regular meetings

practitioners within the sector. Topics aim at reaching

the wider spectrum of creative practitioners and

audiences. Latest topics include Using Social Media

for Artists, European Cultural Networks, Intellectual

Property and Music Rights. Another initiative is

the Culture Pass in collaboration with the Culture

Directorate allowing primary and secondary students

to attend performances for free of charge.

Speaking about Diversity and Communities, and EU

Projects, how do these programmes work?

ACM is currently working on setting up a Cultural

Rights’ Programme through research and focus groups

amongst children, older people, youth, people with

different abilities, people active in traditional culture

and other groups.

Research and also Communications play an important

role within ACM as they both are crucial operative pillars

so as to understand and disseminate information

amongst our creatives, audiences and the general

public.

In 2017, Malta has

returned to the Venice

Biennale after 17 years.

Arts Council Malta

commissioned and

co-ordinated the 2019

Venice Biennale.

ACM is currently leading a €1 million European

Social Fund (ESF) project, investing in the cultural

and creative capacity skills in Malta’s public sector.

This ESF project provides specialised training

programmes. These programmes are aimed at

public sector employees involved in the cultural and

creative sectors, to render public administration and

public service on a regional, local and national level

more efficient in line with the Create 2020 Strategy

and National Priorities.

In just a few months 2019 will draw to a close, so is it

time to speak about Strategy 2020 and 2021–2025?

Next year, Arts Council will be evaluating the

Create 2020 strategy. A consultation about the 2021–

2025 strategy will be carried out to reflect the National

Cultural Policy that will be launched soon. Preliminary

discussions indicate that sustainability and wellbeing

will be key in the upcoming strategy.

As from 2016 ACM has been investing in various cultural

organisations in Malta such as the META Foundation,

Teatru Salesjan, the Opening Doors Association, BLITZ,

Kinemastik, the Mediterranean Literature Festival, the

Malta Short Film Festival, the Designers’ at the Malta

48 HEADING • SUBHEADING

Fashion Week, the Valletta Film Festival, L-Għanja tal-

Poplu, and the Beland Music Festival. Given that the

latter 3-year partnerships are coming to a close, we

have evaluated the impact of this programme on the

organisations to see how it can be improved for the

next call. The new call for interested organisations was

launched in October 2019.

We started our interview with Funding programmes.

What are the grants local artists can apply for?

First of all, I would like to mention that the Malta Arts

Fund is celebrating its 10 th anniversary in 2019. This

fund focuses on two strands of artistic excellence.

The first strand on research and the second on the

implementation of projects that are considered to

have innovative elements.

The Cultural Export Fund focuses on travel, presentation

and touring and translation aiding ACM to reach its

internationalisation goals.

The Creative Communities focus on the creative

projects within communities. Kreattiv addresses

creative projects in school settings. The Young Talent

Fund targets a specific age group – young people

under the age of 18 who train, compete or perform

overseas.

One of the most interesting projects is KulturaTV.

Who can ask for support from the fund?

The KulturaTV funding programme supports private

TV stations only. Innovative cultural programmes,

documentaries about culture in Malta or drama or

series intended primarily for television and also digital

platform operation are examples of projects supported

by Kultura TV. Beneficiaries are provided with coaching

and mentoring throughout the duration of the project.

Creative artists are based not only in Malta but

also Gozo; which programmes support artistic life

on Gozo?

Gozo, Malta’s sister island is small but with a very active

cultural life. In fact, it is worth pointing out that two

opera houses, a few meters away and opposite each

other have sold out opera nights during the October –

Gozo’s Opera Month. ACM supports the Leone

Philharmonic Society and the La Stella Philharmonic

Society. Other supporting investments in Gozo include

the Victoria International Arts Festival, the Gaulitanus

Festival, Feel the Magic Chorus Urbanus Festival

and the DCapitals Cittadella Arts Festival which all

invite international and local performing artists and

collaborations.

Arts Council Malta works with the Creative Industries

Platform. What is the aim of the platform?

This programme facilitates the creation of sector

support platforms within the Culture & Creative

Industries that will provide targeted assistance to help

the sector grow in a sustainable manner. The scope

of these platforms is to provide support and services

to help creative professionals improve their product

and take their creative ideas to market. Currently the

programme is specifically addressing filmmakers,

visual and literary artists.

In October 2019, the Third edition of ‘Il-Premju għall-

Arti’ was launched. It is quite a new project. What

is the aim of the ‘Il-Premju għall-Arti’ and what is

new in the third edition of the award?

‘Il-Premju għall-Arti’ is a national awards programme

to celebrate the achievements of Malta’s cultural

and creative sectors. Il-Premju għall-Arti is Malta’s

most prestigious award acknowledging excellence

in artistic work that premiered during the year.

The eleven categories include Artist of the Year,

Production of the Year, Best Creative Enterprise, and

an Award for Innovation. Il-Premju għall-Arti also

awards four non-competitive honours including the

Lifetime Achievement Award, the Honour for Cultural

Promoters, the Honour for Artistic Legacy and the

Ambassador of the Arts. This year, the nomination

system is more accessible whereby the public may

submit nominations of their preferred artists and

artistic works.

WHEN /

JANUARY

10 -25, 2020

#VBF20

WHERE /

31 CONCERTS IN

17 DIFFERENT VENUES

ACROSS MALTA

ABOUT /

THE 8TH EDITION OF THE VALLETTA

BAROQUE FESTIVAL WILL ONCE MORE

FEATURE TOP-NOTCH ARTISTS, BOTH

FROM MALTA AND ABROAD,

PERFORMING WONDERFUL MUSIC FROM

MONTEVERDI TO BACH & BEYOND.

MORE INFO

MINISTRY FOR JUSTICE, CULTURE

& LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MYMAC #1

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