Please welcome - KorMalta
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KorMalta will consist of choristers who already form part of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra chorus, supplemented by new choristers, chosen by audition. KorMalta will also be providing professional training for its choristers with master classes by local and international tenors and tutors.
On Wednesday, together with the Arts Council Malta, we launched another exciting project within the sector KorMalta, which will see our country having its own national choir.
Owen Bonnici is the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government
Apart from filling a void that has been felt for quite some time, with this launch we are also delivering an electoral manifesto promise by the Government – that of setting up a national choir. In the cultural sector, yes, we are delivering.
Like with other successful initiatives and projects that Arts Council Malta launched in the past couple of years, including Festivals Malta, Teatru Malta and Żfin Malta, KorMalta will have the Ministry’s and the Arts Council Malta’s full commitment and backing.
The Arts Council’s cultural policy is that to transform cultural and creative activity into the most dynamic facet of Malta’s socio-economic life in the 21st century. Three principles that drive this vision are to empower the public to participate in cultural activity through a people-centred approach, to enable relationships between all stakeholders, and to promote knowledge building and sharing through dissemination of best practices and valid information.
Festivals Malta, launched in 2017, with a remit of organising all national festivals but also with the strategic task of exporting local talent. No one doubts Festival Malta’s success in this sphere. And it’s living up to its mission statement: that of having a vision, mission and strategy for all of Malta’s festivals falling under its auspices. Festivals Malta is indeed shaping Malta’s cultural development through all the performing arts, and developing a financially sustainable ecosystem that entertains, enriches and inspires performers and audiences alike. With yearly festivals including the Malta Carnival, Għanafest, the Malta World Music Festival, the Malta International Arts Festival, the internationally renowned Malta Jazz Festival, Notte Bianca and the Three Palaces Festival, Festivals Malta is indeed a success story.
Teatru Malta, established in 2016 and assumed the responsibilities of creating a National Theatre as a much-needed bridge between the popular theatre and theatres strewn all over the island – better known as the community theatres. This project is part of the Malta Arts Council’s 2020 strategy. Describing itself as Malta’s National Theatre without walls, Teatru Malta believes that there is more than one audience so it is creating art for the various audience types. With coming productions “L’homme qui marche” at San Ġorġ Preca College in Ħamrun, “Il-Madonna Tiegħi Aħjar Minn Tiegħek” at the Parish Theatre in Birgu and “Gawgaw: Panto in the Dark” at Esplora, Teatru Malta is proving itself in being diverse and involving local communities in this art.
Żfin Malta, formed in 2015 is Malta’s first National Dance Company that has already made a name for itself both locally and abroad. A repertory national company that aims to thrive in the sharing and employment of a wide range of repertoire ranging from new works created in Malta by both local and international choreographers, as well as the re-staging of renowned works from all over the world. With this in mind, Żfin Malta is creating a company of versatility, whilst maintaining a clear identity with its Euro-Mediterranean roots. Żfin Malta has just presented its new vision at the Tanzmesse 2018 at Düsseldorf, Germany - the biggest dance platform in Europe with the participation of 1,900 professionals from more than 50 countries.
It’s now KorMalta’s turn to join all the others so that our country will boast of having national platforms in different art sectors.
KorMalta will consist of choristers who already form part of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra chorus, supplemented by new choristers, chosen by audition. KorMalta will also be providing professional training for its choristers with master classes by local and international tenors and tutors. Plans include collaborations with the different Public Cultural Organisations such as concerts with the Malta Philharmonic orchestra, solo concerts and touring abroad.
In fact, this week, in preparation for its launch concert, choristers had master classes with world-famous tenor Nicholas Mulroy. The engagement of a tenor of Mulroy’s calibre for these master classes is yet another feather in the cap for the Malta Arts Council and will surely benefit the choristers. The Liverpool-born tenor has performed at many of the world’s greatest concert halls including the Sydney Opera House, the Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonie and more.
KorMalta’s launch concert, Motets & Madrigals from Sacred to Profane, is an ambitious night which will include works by Byrd: Non Nobis Domine; Monteverdi: Adoramus Te Christe; Monteverdi: Sfogava con le Stelle; Palestrina: Sicut Cervus; De
Wert: Or si Rallegri il Ciel; De Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium; Bruckner: Christus Factus est; Mendelssohn: Die Nachtigal; Lauridssen: O Magnum Mysterium; Elgar: Lux Aeterna; and Diacono: Quam dilecta Tabernacula tua Domine.
KorMalta will be making its debut at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta on December 2nd at 18:00. The concert will be completely a cappella to showcase the choir’s capabilities, with choristers positioned in different areas of the cathedral for the different pieces of music. As part of the government’s Outreach in the Community project, the choir will be giving another performance at St Nicholas Parish Church in Siġġiewi on December 4th at 19:30.
Valletta, the European Capital of Culture for 2018, this week officially welcomed the festive season as decorative lights in the city’s main streets were switched on for the first time on Monday evening.
This follows the launching of the now world-famous crib at the entrance to our Capital City, an artistic piece by Gozitan artist Manwel Grech and his team. A valued crib which has already been installed at the Vatican and in Bethlehem.
This year, Republic Street, Merchants Street and the areas in front of the Is-Suq tal-Belt and the Law Courts got a festive makeover thanks to the colourful and intricate light designs installed.
This is a result of our direct investment in the regeneration of Valletta, that now we also have a vibrant colourful city that suits our country and it is befitting that during one of the busiest and joyous times of the year Valletta is to add on more colour. Our commitment is to keep on improving within the culture and creative sector and ensure that it is truly enjoyed by all.
I thank the Merchant Street Business Community Association, as this is the first collaboration with them. In fact, it is the first time that Merchants Street is getting festive lights in similar designs to those in Republic Street.
This is a good example that when government and the private sector collaborate hand in hand, we can deliver to the better of our society. We can work on projects that will not only enhance the cultural sector, but in our way, we would also be helping the country’s economy.
Our country has a lot to offer. We are making good progress in the culture sector with innovative ideas and projects. I was more than pleased when last week the European Commissioner for Education and Culture Tibor Navracsics applauded our budget initiative where schoolchildren can take two adults with them and visit any Heritage Malta site without paying the entrance fee. Commissioner Navracsics also praised our restoration of Auberge d’Italie and its transformation to house our nationalcommunity art museum – MUŻA.
This is an added encouragement for all of us working in this sector, to continue our strong efforts in this sector.
Boasting a collection of well over 20,000 works of art, the main goal of this new museum is to make art accessible to all. This can be seen from its layout which was purposely designed to welcome the public through it. For a further enhanced experience, MUŻA is also equipped with a cafeteria and a dining room which serve specific artistically-inspired products. Latest technology helps the visitor, explore our art in an innovative way. This also appeals to the young inquisitive generation for a hands on experience with our national art.
After a successful international conference of the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO), until Sunday 25th, MUŻA is the venue for the Malhalla Festival.
I invite all to experience
MUŻA when it will open its doors permanently to the public on Saturday, 15th December, when Heritage Malta will be organizing an Open Day from 10:00hrs to midnight with free entrance to all.