ARTS FESTIVALS
Malta Summer Festival
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) is reimainging opera in the first edition of the Malta Summer Festival, being held between today and July 21.
The programme kicks off today with The Three Little Pigs Opera, a production seeking to bring opera to young audiences and families and featuring the Malta Youth Orchestra at Fort St Elmo at 8.15pm.
Tomorrow, a chamber concert titled Songs of Chamber, starring Berlin Philharmonic principal violist Amihai Grosz and soprano Alma Sadé Moshonov with MPO principal violist Nadia Debono and pianist Christine Zerafa, will be held at the Malta Society of Arts.
A gala night celebrating opera, titled Opera Gala, featuring the MPO accompanied by Italian soprano Marina Monzó and Maltese soprano Nicola Said and tenor Vittorio Grigolo, will then take place at Fort St Elmo on Saturday, July 16.
For more details and tickets, visit maltaorchestra.com and the MPO’s Facebook page.
MCAST ICA Festival 2022
MCAST’s Institute for the Creative Arts has turned its annual exhibition into an arts festival, with the aim of reaching out to the community. The festival is celebrating creativity and is acting as a platform to showcase the students’ hard work and collaboration with relative stakeholders in the industry.
The event, which runs until July 31 at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta, includes a fine art exhibition, interactive media and a game art networking event, photography and graphic design.
For more details, visit https://icafestival.com/, the event’s Facebook page and www.kreattivita.org/en/event/mcast-ica-festival-2022/.
MUSIC
Malta Jazz Festival 2022
The festival’s third day sees Marika Grech giving a bass masterclass at The Phoenicia in Floriana at 5pm.
Blue Tangerine, a nine-piece jazz ensemble featuring young musicians from Malta and France, will then perform at City Theatre, Valletta, at 8.30pm.
The above events are free of charge but booking is required via www.festivals.mt/mjf.
There will also be a free jam session at Offbeat music bar at 106, Merchants Street, Valletta, at 9.30pm.
The festival also includes a retrospective exhibition of artworks by the late Charles ‘City’ Gatt at The Phoenicia. The exhibition runs until the end of the month.
Blue Tangerine. Photo: FacebookOTHER EVENTS
Logos Hope in Grand Harbour
Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair is back in Grand Harbour this week.
The onboard book fair offers over 5,000 books covering a wide range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, arts, medicine, languages and faith.
The ship will be open to the public at the Valletta Cruise Port from today as follows: Tuesday through Friday and Sunday: 3pm – 10pm; Saturdays: 10am –1pm, 3-10pm. It is closed on Mondays.
Entrance fee for 13-64 years old is €1 per person, while adults 65 and over enter for free. Children under 12 years old enter for free but must be accompanied by an adult.
The Logos Hope entering Grand Harbour on Tuesday. Photo: Jonathan BorgMalta International Food Festival
Valletta is for the first time hosting a five-day celebration of local and international culinary traditions, dining culture, innovation and artistry next to the Triton Fountain between today and Sunday, July 17.
The event, which kicks off daily at 6pm, will feature hand-prepared cuisines by over 200 international chefs, live cooking shows, live entertainment, exhibitors selling products, a chill-out area and a children’s area.
The event will be followed in a few weeks' time by a smaller Gozo edition. The free street food festival in Xewkija parish square will focus on diversity, with over seven foreign cuisines, live performances and other entertainment.
For more information, visit the event’s website www.maltainternationalfoodfestival.com and Facebook page.
The Malta International Food Festival will take place around the Triton Fountain at the entrance to Valletta. Photo: Shutterstock.comEXHIBITIONS
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 tomorrow, July 14. It is open today and tomorrow from 8am to noon and from 4 to 7pm. For updates, visit the Malta Society of Arts Facebook page.
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 Friday, 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.
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.
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 Republic Street, Valletta, in memory of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The exhibition runs until July 23. For more information, visit https://blitzvalletta.com/.
Humanity at War: Reflections
A photographic exhibition capturing the human side of war by photojournalists Darrin Zammit Lupi and Heidi Levine is on at the Malta Enterprise offices in Pietà.
Curated by Pamela Baldacchino, it features photos of conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Libya and Bosnia.
Funds raised will go towards Ukrainian refugees in Malta and the building of ‘Becs’ Junior Secondary school in Ethiopia, in memory of 15-year-old Rebecca Zammit Lupi who died in 2021 from a rare form of cancer.
The exhibition runs until July 23. It is open between Monday and Friday from 9am to noon and from 6 to 8pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 6-8pm.
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.
Let Me Be Myself
The international Anne Frank exhibition is on display at Il-Ħaġar Museum, Victoria, until July 25. Opening hours this week: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 11pm. Visit the museum’s Facebook page for more information and updates.
Whereabouts
An exhibition of works by Debbie Bonello and Andrew Borg is on at Il-Ħaġar Museum, Victoria, until July 25. Opening hours this week: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 11pm. 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