ALL THE SEA’S A STAGE

This year’s edition of the Malta International Arts Festival sees heritage as an integral part of the events, and what better way than to put a stage on the Mediterranean sea?

The majestic Mediterranean Sea takes more than centre stage in this year’s edition of the Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF), as it becomes a stage itself. In order to distinguish it from other festivals in Europe, the festival’s new artistic director, Ruben Zahra, is including Malta’s unique heritage as an integral part of the events.

The festival will see the Fernandes II Turkish gulet, a two-mast sailing vessel, act as a floating stage giving performances the capacity to not only perform in different localities, but also against different backdrops. Speaking of backdrops, other heritage sites will also be used as performance locations, namely Ħaġar Qim (in collaboration with Heritage Malta) and the Mdina ditch (in co-production with Teatru Malta). Zahra notes the uniqueness this gives the festival:

“Audiences can experience great performances in a black box environment in any international festival, but only in Malta can they experience artistic excellence in a Neolithic temple or the Mediterranean.”

The MIAF has recently been awarded the EFFE Label, which the European Festival Academy awards to remarkable arts festivals showing their engagement in the field of the arts, community involvement and international openness.  “Festivals Malta is very proud that all of its festivals this year have been awarded the EFFE label, which is a very prestigious quality stamp for events in Europe,” Annabelle Stivala, Director of Festivals Malta, explains. Stivala adds that for Festivals Malta the Malta International Arts Festival is not just a showcase of arts events but rather a strategy towards establishing a cultural legacy; which is what makes it so remarkable.

Zahra is not new to programming festivals, having already been artistic director of the local folk festival Għanafest. And so, he brings with him the experience of knowing his audience, which, he asserts, “is one of the most important formations for an artistic director”. But Artistic Director is not the only hat Zahra wears. As a composer he is constantly travelling, which brings him in contact with a variety of wonderful artists and concerts, which certainly help give him a feel for what to programme for his own festivals, yet he points out how “there are many elements that factor into the selection of a festival programme, and just because a production attracts a large audience in Berlin, it may not have the same pull in Malta.”

So what does Zahra have in store for audiences this year? With a focus on artistic excellence, the contemporary performing arts and innovation the artistic director has chosen events that connect artists from different artforms and nationalities that work together and as a result reach out to different audiences. For instance, there will be M.A.D (music and dance) featuring the music of three internationally renowned composers (György Ligeti, William Walton, Guillaume Connesson) and three local composers (Karl Fiorini, Alex Vella Gregory, Veronique Vella). The dance is choreographed by Gil Kerer (Israel) and Zoe Camilleri (Malta). Guthan Aosda – Ancient Voices will see the local Moveo Dance Company in collaboration with trombone virtuoso John Kenny from Scotland playing on the Carnyx and other Celtic war horns. Another local-international collaboration will be Pope Joan by Malta’s national theatre company Teatru Malta, which tells the story of medieval legend Pope Joan, “a prodigy who chose to defy all odds” by disguising herself as a boy. And there’s more. Water continues to play a central theme in the festival and we see a spectacular underwater concert from Denmark entitled Aquasonic as well as the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra perform the Water Concerto by Tan Dun featuring Chinese percussion soloist Beibei Wang. Another sure highlight is the “genius” (The Guardian) Israel Galván’s latest flamenco act FLA.CO.MEN. The Valletta Campus Theatre (VCT - formally known as MITP) will host two productions that require a black-box environment and intimate setting. Toujours et Près de Moi? from the UK is a visually stunning holographic music theatre work with a modern adaptation of ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ technique. The other production taking place at VCT is Berberio - an award winning multimedia show for children from Belgium about the music and the artistic vision of Italian contemporary composer Luciano Berio.

Every year, the MIAF provides the opportunity for residency programmes, masterclasses, workshops and a young talent showcase. The Dance Hybrid with dance artists Rudi Cole and Julia Robert Pares will run from July 7 till July 12. Local dancers may also audition to participate in three works choreographed by artists in residency Gil Kerer (Israel) and Zoe Camilleri (Malta). This work will be presented to a live music recital on the main stage of the MIAF on July 4. International dance artist Israel Galván is also offering a 4-hr masterclass on July 6. Young musicians will get the opportunity to perform within the MIAF programme as part of an eight concert Rising Stars series at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta.

We conclude where we left off, aboard the boat that plays such a central role in the festival. Following a call for artists, this vessel will act as a floating stage to present productions in different localities along Malta’s coastline. The Fernandes II will also be the protagonist of the Harbour Odyssey - another project within the MIAF programme which consists of a curated tour of the Grand Harbour. The audience aboard the vessel will experience an exclusive narrative animated by actors and musicians co-produced by Marc Cabourdin and directed by Chris Dingli  - as they sail across an itinerary of the Grand Harbour.

Of course, and if you’ll forgive the pun, no man is an island, and Zahra comes ably assisted by Francesca Tranter and Daniel Azzopardi as programming team members. Festivals Malta, the organiser of the festival, has a new young and enthusiastic team and Zahra feels “very lucky to have this support”. Caroline Agius is festival manager while Alice Azzopardi is head of PR and Marketing. These, he rightly asserts, are two very important threads to uphold the success of the MIAF.

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MALTA INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

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