January2016 by IMPACT PR

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3600 BC

750 BC

The Temple Builders Die Tempelbauer Les constructeurs des temples I costruttori di Templi

218 BC The Romans Römer Les Romains I Romani

The Phoenicians Die Phönizier Les Phéniciens I Fenici

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MILESTONES MEILENSTEINE ÉTAPE IMPORTANTE PIETRA MILIARE

60 AD

870 AD

Christianity Christentum Le Christianisme Il Cristianesimo

1090 AD

The Arabs Die Araber Les Arabes Gli Arabi

The Norman Conquest Die normannische Eroberung La conquête normande La Conquista normanna

1565 AD

1530 AD

1798 AD

The Great Siege Die Große Belagerung Le Grand Siège Il Grande Assedio

The Knights of St. John Die Johanniterritter Les Chevaliers de St. Jean I Cavalieri di San Giovanni

1800 AD

1974 AD

Republic Republik La république La Repubblica

* Image:Heritage Malta • Bild: Heritage Malta • Image:Heritage Malta • Foto:Heritage Malta

The French period Die französische Periode La période française Il periodo francese

Arrival of the British Ankunft der Briten L’arrivée des anglais L’arrivo degli inglesi

1940 AD

World War II Zweiter Weltkrieg La deuxième guerre mondiale La Seconda Guerra Mondiale

2004 AD

EU Accession EU-Mitgliedschaft L’accès à l’UE L’accesso all’UE

1964 AD

Independence Unabhängigkeit L’indépendance L’Indipendenza

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January in Malta

Image: Comino and Malta seen from Gozo ÂŠ www.viewingmalta.com

You might ask yourself "What is there to do on an island like Malta in January?" You would be amazed once you start looking around for what is going on in this island full of history, culture and tradition. January in Malta is packed with events ranging from cultural to theatrical and more. The beginning of the month is characterized by events related to the Christmas season which traditionally goes on until the feast of the Epiphany which is celebrated on the 6th. So if you are visiting at this time of the year you can still make it to visit the various live nativity scenes and exhibitions.

Image: Artistic preformances - Concert in a church ÂŠ DOI

12 l 13 The theatrical and operatic season is busy with events in all major venues across the island, especially in the capital, Valletta. The Manoel Theatre hosts the annual Valletta International Baroque Festival which apart from the theatre itself, performances are hosted in various churches and palaces within the European Cultural City of 2018. If you like ballet, then you are here at the right moment. On the 10th January, the historic Mediterranean Conference Centre, which used to be the hospital of the Knights of St. John is hosting Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' by artists from "The Crown of Russian Ballet" of Moscow with soloists from Bolshoi Theatre and talented young dancers. These are just a few of the events taking place in Malta. You can also enjoy the countryside which is most enchanting at this time of the year due to the mild Mediterranean climate of the Maltese Islands. While in Malta, why not take the ferry and cross to Gozo, which although twenty five minutes away is yet a different destination with it's own character. Malta and Gozo have truly something to offer all year round and they are all yours to discover.

Image: Chadwick Lakes © Pauline Dingli www.viewingmalta.com

Image: Ferry crossing between Malta and Gozo © IMPACT PR

Image: Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta © www.viewingmalta.com

Image: Gozo Coutryside © IMPACT PR

New Beginnings In Gozo

January is named after the Roman god Janus. In ancient Roman mythology this god symbolised beginnings, changes and transitions, and was depicted with two faces, one which looks to the past, and another one which looks into the future. The first month of the year indeed could not have a better name! As we make new propositions for the New Year, one should also include visiting Gozo.

Image: The Roman god Janus, symbolising beginnings

The New Year in Gozo will be celebrated in style as numerous events will be taking place in Independence square and Saint George Square on the 31st December. Local bands including ‘Cross Walk’, ‘The Residents’, and ‘D Capitals’, will animate this year’s event. This has now become a popular meeting place to celebrate the New Year for both foreigners and Gozitans alike. The renowned Gaulitanus choir under the artistic directorship of Maestro Colin Attard will again organise ‘A New Year’s Toast’ on New Year’s day at the Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz. This choir, strong of its recent tour in Emiglia Romagna, is a must-hear for all cultural afecionados. It has built a reputation of its own especially through the annual Gaulitana Festival of Music.

14 l 15 Image: Ta’ Lourdes Chapel © Joseph Caruana, Ministry for Gozo

The festive season will continue through the first week of January. Most of the live cribs will in fact remain open till the 3rd January, the feast of the Epiphany which in the Maltese islands is celebrated on the first Sunday following the beginning of the new year. Synoym with Gozo’s deeply religious culture this date will see the arrival of the three kings in Qala, Xagħra and Għajnsielem. The three kings clad in oriental royal outfits will arrive on horseback in the squares of these three villages, followed by servants carrying gold, incense and myrrh. These reenactments are very much sought after by the local community, and have helped in giving a new verve to this traditional feast. January will also see another two religious feasts being celebrated in Gozo, the feast of Saint Paul shipwreck in Marsalforn on the 24th January, and the feast of Saint John Bosco at the Oratory dedicated to this saint in Victoria. The Gozo Youth Band orchestra will also be performing on the 31st January with a concert at the Don Bosco oratory. This year’s event will see around 50 youths performing the best pieces of the vast repertoire which the orchestra has been performing for the last fourteen years. January will also see the opening of the Carnival festivities in Nadur, as the Nadur organised carnival is celebrated at Saint Peter and Paul Square on Sunday, the 31st January. A variety of carnival dances, hilarious sketches, floats and the traditional kukkanja will be held to celebrate the opening of Carnival week. From the late Christmas festivities to the early Carnival celebrations, surely Gozo can spell a new beginning for a new year filled with new surprises and things to look forward to, enjoy and warm your heart with great expectations. Image: Carnival in Gozo © Tonio Schembri, Ministry for Gozo

Gozo Intricately beautiful

www.gozo.gov.mt

Image: Sunrise over valley from Ûebbu© - © Daniel Cilia, Ministry for Gozo

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The Nutcracker 10th January Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta

The most popular and magical Christmas ballet for all the family ! The artists from "The Crown of Russian Ballet" of Moscow with soloists from Bolshoi Theatre and talented young dancers bring Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky's glorious music. On a sparkling Christmas Eve in a frost-dusted Edwardian London, Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world, where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger. As the air grows colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker take a hot air balloon ride across London to the glistening Land of Snow where her adventure really begins. The Great Russian Nutcracker Ballet is a part of the Festival "Russian Christmas", which will be held in Malta between 6 17 January 2016. The Festival organized by the Russian-Maltese Cultural Association in collaboration with other Russian diaspora organizations and dedicated to the celebration of the Russian Orthodox Christmas. Festival will include Series of cultural and art events: Russian traditional folk art exhibition and fashion show "Russian Style", Traditional Christmas Tree Party for children, Art of painting contest "Orthodox Christmas by my eyes", "Russian Orthodox celebration Mass", "Russian Christmas Season" Concert and other seasonal activities. From the sound of the well known beautiful music, to the final bows and cheers, a trip to The Russian Christmas Ballet "Nutcracker" in the splendour of Malta is an unforgettable Christmas treat ! Bookings on www.mcc.com.mt, 25595750, 25595751, 99871818.

16th to 30th January

Since its inception in 2013, the Festival has leapt from strength to strength attracting a strong local support and an international audience happy to spend a week or two in the inimitable atmosphere of Valletta. This festival includes an internationally recognised galaxy of star performers, household names within the baroque world such as Jordi Savall and Philippe Herreweghe not to mention harpsichord wizard Mahan Esfahani have delighted audiences for decades with their inimitable interpretations of the baroque idiom. This festival, like the previous ones, incorporates an eclectic variety of music including pianistic transcriptions and 20th Century orchestral music ‘inspired by the baroque’; Respighi and Stravinsky being cases in point. Two Requiems; one by Bonaventura Rubino and the other by Niccolo Jommelli have strong Maltese connections as the manuscript of the first was found in the Cathedral Museum Archive at Mdina while that of the Neapolitan Jommelli incorporates responses by Maltese composers that have been researched by Ghislieri Musica in the same archive.

20 l 21 The festival also has events specifically designed for children including a treasure hunt round the Theatre. Once all the concerts are over the festival ends with the very popular Baroque Festival Ball when the Manoel is transformed into a ballroom and everyone has the opportunity to dress up and dance to music provided by a string quartet and band. The Festival is produced and managed by Teatru Manoel. For more details and to book visit www.vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt

Programme 16 17 17 17 18 19 19 20

19:30 12:00 15:00 17:30 19:30 12:00 19:00 19:30

21 22 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 26 27

19:30 19:30 11.30 16:30 19:30 12:00 15:00 17:30 19:30 19:30 19:30

28 29 29 30 30

19:30 12:00 19:30 12:00 21:00

Bach's Musical Offering Bach's Sonatas for violin and piano Baroque Treasure Hunt for the family Unitate Melos Bonaventura Rubino Messa Goldberg Variations Il Spiritillo Brando Inspired by Baroque: Respighi, Poulenc, Gorecki, Stravinsky, Bach L'Arte del Madrigale Venetian Graces Robert Cominati VIBE in Concert: A Musical Banquet The Italian Job Great Baroque Composers Baroque Kid Power The Four Seasons - Vivaldi Du Treuer Gott (The True God) VIBE Concert: Unity in Diversity The Legend of Orlando: Battles, Love and Madness Elements of Dance The Music of Silence Niccolò Jommelli Reqiuem Beatles go Baroque Baroque Festival Ball

Teatru Manoel Teatru Manoel Teatru Manoel Ta’ Ġiezu Church Jesuits Church Bibliotheca (National Library) Ta' Ġieżu Church Teatru Manoel St Nicholas (All Souls Church) President's Palace Teatru Manoel St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral Teatru Manoel Teatru Manoel Studio Theatre Teatru Manoel St. John's Co-Cathedral St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral Teatru Manoel Teatru Manoel St. Nicholas (All Souls) Church Jesuits Church Casino Maltese Teatru Manoel

Local Councils Events in January Celebrating Tradition, Folklore and Culture 10th Citrus and Harvest Festival Tal-Mirakli Chapel and Tal-Mirakli Garden, Ă&#x201C;al Lija. from 09:30-18:00. There will be sale of citrus fruit, sale of typical Maltese food and honey products. Art exhibitions in the Old Windmill. Artisans will be exhibiting their Maltese crafts. Games and entertainment for children and a variety of music entertainment. There will also be a classic sports car show (weather permitting).

31st Nadur Carnival 2016 St. Peter and St. Paul Square, Nadur. from 13:00 A variety of carnival dances, hilarious sketches, costumes, floats and the traditional kukkanja

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