ARTS FESTIVALS

Victoria International Arts Festival

A viola and pianoforte recital by local violinist Peter Fenech and international pianist Tomás Matos will take place today at 8pm at the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia, Victoria.

The Victoria International Arts Festival runs until July 11. For more details and tickets, visit www.viaf.org.mt/.

MUSIC

Malta International Music Festival

The National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan will today be performing at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, accompanied by sopranos Andriana Yordanova (Malta/Bulgaria) and Danielle de Niese (US/Australia) and students from the vocal department of the Malta Classical Musical Academy.

The concert starts at 8pm.

The Malta International Music Festival runs until July 11. For more details and tickets, visit https://maltafest.eu/concerts/schedule/.

FILM

Blat: The Island Fortress

Malta’s first-ever opera-film, Blat: The Island Fortress, is showing at Spazju Kreattiv today and on Friday, July 8.

Produced by the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, Malta’s national college for the performing and visual arts, the film is set in March 1940, when most of Europe was embroiled in World War I but Malta was still spared. The plot follows a love triangle as war hits the islands and all are forced to take cover in the underground shelters.

The cast includes both professionals in different areas of the arts, several students from the four schools within the college as well as extras, including the students’ parents.

Among the performers are Nicola Said, Angelo Muscat, Astrid Cacciatore, Louis Andrew Cassar, Clare Ghigo, Charles Vincenti and Ken Scicluna.

The libretto is written by Ġorġ Peresso and Amy Borg, the music is by Reuben Pace, while the screenplay and direction is by Alan Fenech.

The screening starts at 8.30pm. For tickets, visit www.kreattivita.org.

Soprano Nicola Said (second from left) in Blat: The Island Fortress. Photo: Ken Scicluna

THEATRE

Il-Pożittivi

Malta’s first contemporary play that tackles the stigma that people who live with HIV experience in Malta is being staged at the Valletta Campus Theatre between today and July 10.

The cast includes Ray Calleja, Clare Agius, Josette Ciappara and Chris Vincent.

Performances, suitable for an audience over 15, start at 8pm. For tickets, click here. 

EXHIBITIONS

City Lights – A Charles Gatt Retrospective

Best known as a musician and jazz percussionist, the late Charles ‘City’ Gatt also loved to paint. The Phoenicia, in Floriana, is hosting a retrospective exhibition of his colourful, abstract works at the hotel’s Palm Court Lounge from today until July 31.

Curated by Charlene Vella, the exhibition forms part of this year’s Malta Jazz Festival, which is taking place between July 11 and 16. Visit www.festivals.mt/mjf for more information.

One of the artworks by the late Charles ‘City’ Gatt on display at The Phoenicia in Floriana.

Strange Days

An exhibition of fine art prints and paintings by Australian artist Christian Palmer runs at the new gallery Green Shutters, 27, St Thomas Street, Floriana, until July 23. For more details, follow the Facebook page Lily Agius Gallery.

Just Human

An exhibition, featuring the works of Debbie Caruana Dingli, Saviour Baldacchino, Antoine Paul Camilleri and Wallace Falzon runs at Obelisk Gallery, Main Street, Balzan, until July 8. Visit the gallery’s Facebook page for more details.

Mystery and Process

An exhibition of 20 abstract paintings by Anthony Spagnol runs at the Art Galleries of the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta until July 14. Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 7pm; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8am to noon and 4 to 7pm; and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. For updates, visit the Malta Society of Arts Facebook page.

Obliterated Childhood

Ethiopian artist Dereje Shiferaw is exhibiting for the first time at the Christine X Art Gallery in Sliema until July 8. Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and from 4 to 7pm. For more information, visit the gallery’s Facebook page.

Petu by Dereje Shiferaw. Photo: Courtesy of Christine X Art Gallery

Solitary Observations

Ray Forder-Stent, an English artist residing in Malta, is presenting his first solo exhibition at the Art by the Seaside gallery in Senglea until July 15. On display are a wide range of oil paintings, based on his keen observations, where he captures his individual viewpoint of landscapes, people, still lifes and the artistic value of everyday things he notices on the Maltese islands. Visit the gallery’s Facebook page for more details.

Something About You

A 10-year survey exhibition by Marinella Senatore at Blitz in Valletta brings together paintings, drawings, videos, a powerful project with Russian protest group Pussy Riot featuring a new organic site-specific sculpture, and a public artwork on the historical façade of Valletta’s Casino Maltese.

The exhibition culminated in the public performance The School of Narrative Dance on June 30, which featured over 100 participants from local groups and communities, and a dance movement in memory of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Republic Street, Valletta.

The exhibition runs until July 23. For more information, visit https://blitzvalletta.com/.

Ecotopias

A solo exhibition by Roderick Camilleri is running at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq, Mqabba, until July 24. Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 6am to noon and on Sundays from 7am to noon. Extra opening hours are announced weekly on Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq Facebook page.

Connections

Contemporary artworks by Alfred Camilleri are on display at MUŻA, Valletta, until July 24. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Visit the museum’s Facebook page for more information.

Whereabouts

An exhibition of works by Debbie Bonello and Andrew Borg is on at Il-Ħaġar Museum, Victoria, until July 25. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Visit the museum’s Facebook page for more information and updates.

Colour Blocking

A colourful stone sculpture exhibition by Antoine Farrugia is open to the public at the Phoenicia Hotel Deep Nature Spa.

Prehistoric pottery making

An exhibition presenting the results of a scientific investigation of materials and techniques used in pottery making during Maltese prehistory is open at the National Museum of Archaeology. The exhibition runs until the end of August. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 4.30pm. 

whatson@timesofmalta.com