FIRST NOVEMBER 2022 ISSUE No 338

CHASING THE SUN

Frances Mayes

“My idea of heaven still is to drive the gravel farm roads of Umbria and Tuscany, very pleasantly lost.”

CHASING THE SUN

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

“I

t was pleasant to wake up in Florence, to open the eyes upon a bright bare room, with a foor of red tiles which look clean though they are not; with a painted ceiling whereon pink grifns and blue amorini sport in a forest of yellow violins and bassoons. It was pleasant, too, to fing wide the windows, pinching the fngers in unfamiliar fastenings, to lean out into sunshine with beautiful hills and trees and marble churches opposite, and, close below, Arno, gurgling against the embankment of the road.”

E. M. Forster, A Room with a View

FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 338.

“I believed in a return to Nature once. But how can we return to Nature when we have never been with her? Today, I believe that we must discover Nature. After many conquests we shall attain simplicity. It is our heritage.”

E.M. Forster

55

EXCLUSIVE SERIES: THIS IS WINE. Pommard by Night or Day. The Pommard Hills. Photo courtesy Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), © BIVB / photography Michel Joly.

LA DOLCE VITA. Under the Tuscan Sun. Inside Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel. Photography© Belmond/Helen Cathcart

ARCHITECTURE: GUSTAVE ROMEO VINCENTI. Section of the final proposed elevation drawing for Vincenti Buildings. Photograph courtesy Kite Group.

Spanish Tapaswith Mediterranean Culinary Academy. Photography Zahrin Lukman.

DOLCE VITA

IS WINE

COMING TO LIGHT. Bronzes from the Mud. Photography courtesy Italian Ministry of Culture.

& CULTURE

DISCOVERY

CORTON.

ENVIRONMENT. Battle for Survival. The Ancient Araucaria and COP27. PhotographyGustavo Zambelli, Lago Moquehue, Argentina.

SUNDAY

The 9th Malta International Organ Festival. Photography Reuben Chircop.

The 43rd Rolex Middle Sea Race. Photography courtesy Royal Malta Yacht Club© Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

DESSERT IDEAS.

Tart with Whipped Cream and Crème Fraîche. Photography Jordane Mathieu.

Breakfast at Corton-Charlemagne. Photography Sean Gabriel Ellul.

“My idea of heaven still is to drive the gravel farm roads of Umbria and Tuscany, very pleasantly lost.”

Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun

TUSCANY

Under the Tuscan Sun

In the deep, deep Tuscan countryside Castello di Casole, was once a village, with a school, a church, a priest’s house and an extensive farm that produced olive oil, wine, wheat and cheese. It was owned by the noble Bargagli family of Siena, whose private chapel still stands in this history-steeped enclave. Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, commands an unparalleled location in Tuscany’s bucolic heart. Set on 4,200-acre private estate of rolling hills, sweeping valleys, vineyards and olive groves, the grounds are home to 2,813 trees, including oaks, citrus trees, olives and vines, as well as 6,000 roses of 50 different species and over 7,450 plants - among them Laurus nobilis, jasmine, tulips, wisteria, hydrangeas, geraniums and various aromatic varieties. Only an hour away from Florence and 30 minutes from Siena - this is a hidden Tuscan paradise.

Photography courtesy Belmond.

Tis page: Set on 4,200-acre private estate of rolling hills, sweeping valleys, vineyards and olive groves, the exterior views from the hotel are magnifcent. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

This page: Sunset views. Photograph © Belmond/Benedetta Bassanelli.

Located in the village of Querceto, near Casole d’Elsa, Castello di Casole commands an unparalleled location in Tuscany’s bucolic heart. Te village is named afer the oak forests that surround the estate, from "quercia", oak tree in Italian. Early documents dating from 998 AD, when the Marquis Ugo of Tuscany bequeathed it to the Abbey of Marturi, allude to the castle of Querceto as a quadrangular complex with an interior courtyard and four towers at each corner. One of these towers, the last vestige of the original castle, is still visible today. In the early Middle Ages, the castle of Querceto became important as a safe haven to host refugees feeing Siena, so much so, that in the 14th century it was among the castles and fortresses which were forbidden to host them, under penalty of one thousand golden guilders. Afer the 14th century, the castle slipped into decline and was partially demolished.

Top lef: Set in a beautifully restored 10th-century castle. originally owned by the noble Bargagli family of Siena, step into history. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

Top right: Majestic interiors, and a welcome spot to relax. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart. Bottom right: Private chapel owned by the Bargagli family. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

Querceto began a fourishing new existence under the ownership of the

in the mid-17th century. Over the next 300 years they developed the estate into an

village and highly productive farm. Te actual Farm of Querceto was created afer the acquisition of the manor house in 1661. In the 18th century, the castle underwent major renovations, resulting in today's villa style. Attached to it was an extensive patchwork of felds, managed according to a sharecropping system by farmers who lived in dwellings dotting the estate. Te main villa - the former castle - was the master’s house. Te village enjoyed its own church, San Tommaso a Querceto, built in the 1830s when the parish population reached 258. In the 19th century, the Bargaglis acquired the Casole estate as well, and it was only in 1878 that the diferentiation between the two estates was overcome and all the lands were classifed as 'Farm of Querceto'.

This page: The rose garden. Photograph © Belmond/Daniele Ragazzini.

aristocratic Sienese Bargagli family

independent

Tis page: Bedroom located in the ancient castle tower which is part of an Exclusive Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

By the 20th century, the Bargagli Estate in Querceto comprised over 30 farms, two villas and 2,200 hectares of cultivated and forested land. It had become one of the most expansive private properties in Italy. Te self-sufcient village had its own school, church, a priest’s house, a wine cellar, and a limonaia built to house lemon trees in the winter. Te Bargaglis’ private family chapel can still be seen on the main village road.

As well as wheat, wine, oil and cheese, the estate produced wool, silk cocoons and mulberry leaves. Creative industries, such as spinning, weaving and carpentry, sprang up in the village. On site were two furnaces that produced the tiles adorning the guestrooms today.

Top left: Living room of the Exclusive Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart. Right: Living room of an Exclusive Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

Above left: Bathroom of the Exclusive Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

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Marquis Piero Bargagli was passionate about archaeology and, from 1870-75, carried out a series of excavations that unearthed a great number of artefacts from the Etruscan age (5th to 3rd century BC). Many of these are displayed in the Library and Essere Spa at Belmond Castello di Casole, with further items exhibited in Casole d’Elsa’s archaeological museum.

Te end of sharecropping in the late 1950s led to the Bargagli family selling the estate, and a few years later, Querceto was bought by Count Edoardo Visconti di Modrone Erba, the brother of world-renowned flm director Luchino Visconti, who used to spend his summers here. Te grand parties they held - to which movie stars from across the globe were invited - are the stuf of legend.

Left: Bathroom of the Exclusive Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart Top right: Deluxe Double Room.

Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Bottom: Once used to shelter the estate’s lemon trees in cooler weather, the Limonaia now comprises five beautiful suites that open onto a private patio. Limonaia Suite terrace. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila.

Visconti added to the estate by building a large cattle barn and a hunting reserve. In 1979, the property was restored and sold to a Milan-based company, who were considering developing Querceto into a tourist destination. However, in 2000, the estate was purchased by Guido Antonello, who enlisted the services of renowned Italian designer Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019) to restore the villa. In 2007, the estate was acquired by a US company that started developing it into a luxury resort, and fnally in 2018, Belmond acquired the property, which today is known as Castello di Casole.

Top left: The exterior is a Tuscan postcard. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Top right: Enjoy a gourmet menu or indulge in a Tuscan snack at an enchanted table under ancient trees. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Bottom left: A quiet sitting area next to the ancient oak forest. Photograph © Belmond/Helen Cathcart.

Bottom right: The rose garden is home to 6000 roses. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila.

Approaching Castello di Casole today, a 200-year-old olive tree, an iconic symbol of Tuscany, stands at the entrance rotunda. Te rolling estate is home to 2,813 trees, including oaks, citrus trees, olives and vines. With 4,200 verdant acres, the estate produces a bounty of natural products including Castello di Casole extra virgin olive oil from the grove of ancient olive trees, and a limited production of 6,000 bottles of "Sì di Sì" - a red blend of estate grapes, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Cabernet; while busy bees produce wildfower honey. Te property also counts 6,000 roses of 50 diferent species in its collection, including a rose variety with a vibrant lemon-yellow heart and a delicate fragrance, created expressly for Castello di Casole; as well as over 7,452 plants, among them Laurus nobilis, jasmine, tulips, wisteria, hydrangeas, geraniums and various aromatic varieties.

Indeed the very large expanse of land allows for a truly immersive Tuscan experience, including trufe hunting; wildlife walks; cooking classes; wine tasting tours; fower workshops; painting classes and more. Perhaps a quote from novelist Frances Mayes sums it up best: “I fnd that other countries have this or that, but Italy is the only one that has it all for me. Te culture, the cuisine, the people, the landscape, the history. Just everything to me comes together there.”

ABOUT BELMOND: Belmond has been a pioneer of luxury travel for over 45 years with a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train and Italian hideaways such as Te Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina.

Tis page: Aerial view of the ancient amphitheatre and rose garden of the hotel. Photograph © Belmond/Daniele Ragazzini.

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This page: A section of the final proposed elevation drawing along Old Bakery Street, Valletta, for Vincenti Buildings.

AN ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

Gustave R. Vincenti

Perit Gustave R. Vincenti (1888–1974), a protagonist of the local Art Nouveau movement, excelled in progressing his designs according to mainstream architectural norms. His pioneering Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles mark the climax of his career. Ultimately his versatility led him to shift towards Modernism and experimentation with reinforced concrete, therefore bringing about a new architectural language. Now a new coffee table book, Gustave R. Vincenti – An Architectural Legacy by David Ellul and published by Kite Group, delves into the projects and extensively various buildings designed by Vincenti. These architectural projects include Vincenti Buildings in Strait Street Valletta, Palazzina Vincenti in St Julian’s, and townhouses in Sliema and Floriana, with drawings of these projects being published for the first time.

Photography courtesy Kite Group.

Gustave R. Vincenti is one of the main protagonists of Maltese architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. "He was not only one of the most prolific architects but he demonstrated a notable proficiency and versatility in various architectural styles, ranging from classical-inspired designs to the Art Nouveau to Modernism. Throughout a considerable part of his career, he managed to simultaneously act both as an architect and a development entrepreneur, threading a fine line between the two. This double act many-a-times entailed a strong dose of boldness and business acumen and an intuitive sense of pragmatism in his design approach to ensure the economic viability of the project without compromising its aesthetic qualities", writes Conrad Thake in the foreword.

Above: Second proposed plan showing the reduction of the timber balconies and the integration of open stone balconies. Plan dated 3 February 1936.

Above: Initial proposed elevation drawing for Vincenti Buildings, Valletta, along Old Bakery Street designed in a traditional aesthetic with the use of large timber balconies dictating the architecture of the façade.

“T

he monumental Vincenti Buildings in Valletta can be considered to be his magnum opus. Te extensive ofce and residential complex was developed on a site previously occupied by the Order’s bakery which took up the entire block with its main frontages on Old Bakery Street and Strait Street and lateral façades overlooking Melita Street and St John Street. When, in 1935, the government decided to sell the entire bakeries for demolition and re-development, Vincenti purchased the whole site and redeveloped it into apartments and ofces with underlying shops. Vincenti Buildings was the largest private project undertaken locally in the frst half of the twentieth century.

Vincenti, together with Andrea Vassallo and Giuseppe Psaila, was one of the main exponents of the Art Nouveau movement and hybrid decorative eclecticism that fourished locally in the 1920s. Vincenti’s terraced houses in Sir Adrian Dingli Street, Amery Street, and Rudolph Street, Sliema are some of the fnest examples of this period. Most of his architectural works are to be found in Sliema/St Julian’s and in Valletta/Floriana. Vincenti’s clients were in the main afuent coming from the commercial class. He was also engaged in private development projects including public land acquired through government tenders. Tese include the Harper Lane/Crucifx Hill residential project and another two apartment blocks in Floriana within the Harper Area.

Top: The final proposed elevation drawing along Old Bakery Street. This plan shows the central block framed with two pillars and vertically extended by the introduction of a pediment at roof level to create an imposed elevation. Middle left: View from Strait Street showing the finished Vincenti Buildings with workers fitting the metal apertures along the façade. Left: Partial construction of the front entrance to one of the blocks with two masons hoisting the masonry blockwork with a pulley system. Right: Ongoing construction works showing the layout of the apartments with St Augustine church in the background.

Afer the war, Vincenti embarked upon his last signifcant project: the construction of his personal residence, Palazzina Vincenti along the seafront of St Julian’s. It marked a signifcant departure from his earlier works as he rejected traditional historicist styles and embraced modernity and the use of reinforced concrete. It is a building that is currently threatened with demolition; ultimately the fnal

fate of Palazzina Vincenti will determine whether the powers that be are truly willing to safeguard the legacy of Modernist architecture."

Living in an age of experimentation, Vincenti excelled his architectural boundaries through the innovative use of materials and distinctive profles and geometry. Te execution of such avant-garde buildings depicts the emergence of modern and contemporary designs that ultimately shaped most the 20th century Maltese urban landscape.

Above: Palazzina Vincenti in its completed state showing Perit Gustave Vincenti posing on the terrace at Ġorġ Borg Olivier Street. Bottom left: Elevation drawing of the house in Main Street, St Julian’s which was bombed in the Second World War and later replaced by Palazzina Vincenti. Bottom right: Palazzina Vincenti, showing the internal arrangement and decorated reinforced concrete ceiling at first-floor level.

This page: Palazzina Vincenti, showing the internal arrangement and decorated reinforced concrete ceiling at first-floor level.

The author of this new title, David Ellul says that “throughout my childhood and adolescence, I had the privilege of being brought up in the company of Hilaire Vincenti which was instrumental in the pursuit of my studies and research about his father Perit Gustave Vincenti. Hilaire was a very close friend whom I held in great esteem and considered part of my family. His daily visits to my home resulted in countless experiences that created fond childhood memories that I will always cherish. Other memories I can recall were the countless visits on a weekly basis to Palazzina Vincenti where he used to greet me with open arms.”

On this point Edward Said in the foreword to this book writes that “few can say they have had the thrill of discovering and handling an actual treasure. David Ellul can certainly claim so, afer encountering a cache of drawings, records, journals, and countless other documents belonging to Perit Gustave Romeo Vincenti, undisputedly one of Malta’s most signifcant architects in recent history. Tis presented an opportunity to immerse himself in the dynamic world of this distinguished man. It must be admitted that such a publication could not have been launched at a more critical time. In a country where the built environment is undergoing rapid and radical changes which, put aptly, would surely horrify Perit Vincenti, dissemination of knowledge about the wealth of architectural legacies which he, his contemporaries, and their followers passed down to us is screamingly lacking. Another service this fascinating publication provides is one of inspiration, to young architects and other practitioners in related felds. Surely the crisply reproduced selection of plans, elevations, and photographs from this wonderful archive will ignite a desire to learn, research, draf manually, sketch, and emulate.”

Left: Gustave Vincenti and his wife Marie Stella in Palazzina Vincenti. Below: Image from Ġorġ Borg Olivier Street showing house No. 186 after completion.

ST PUBLIUS CHURCH. In the aerial bombardment of 28 April 1942, the church of St Publius in Floriana suffered a direct dive-bomb hit destroying a large part of the church’s façade and its dome. After the war, the reconstruction of the demolished areas of the church were completed in stages, under the guidance of Gustave Vincenti. The full reconstruction took around 15 years to complete. Apart from the reconstruction of the demolished parts, Vincenti was entrusted with the design of the new cupola.

According to David Ellul “Vincenti’s archival documents, surpassing those of any other contemporary of his, deciphered his thoughts, ideas, and life. He reveals himself as an avant-garde professional, whose works alone illustrate the transition from an emerging Art Nouveau movement towards modernism. His stylistic revolution is also represented in his business acumen towards architecture. His commercial sense translated into a meticulous attention to interior detail, therefore maintaining a holistic approach throughout; clearly a man with a zeal for precision, quality, and aesthetics.

Above: Proposed elevation drawing of the unrealized dome of St Publius Church.

Top and

Vincenti reached out towards a diferent and more contemporary fashion, mostly within his own projects which proves that he was a dynamic and forward-looking architect who, through his experimentation with material, form, and style, should be regarded as a distinctive fgure in Malta’s architectural scene.”

Available

Te book will also be available during the 2022 Malta Book Festival, Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November, at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali.

above: Gustave R. Vincenti –An Architectural Legacy is available with two covers to choose from: Palazzina Vincenti, St Julian’s or Vincenti Buildings, Valletta.

Right: Proposed elevation drawing of the unrealized dome of St Publius Church.

Gustave R. Vincenti –An Architectural Legacy by David Ellul. Foreword by Conrad Take and Edward Said. 328 pages, hardback – two covers to choose from: Palazzina Vincenti, St Julian’s or Vincenti Buildings, Valletta. Signed copied of the book are available. Published by Kite Group.

from www.kitegroup.com.mt, Kite Bookshop, 13 Triq il-Frangiskani Hamrun, and leading bookstores.

Malta University Press

LIGHT ON WIND, LARGE ON SPECTACLE

THE 2022 ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE

Grand Harbour performed visual magic as 118 yachts set off on the 43rd Rolex Middle Sea Race this October 22nd. Valletta's limestone walls were alive with bright sunshine as they offered the gathered spectators, high up on the bastions, a perfect setting to send off the intrepid fleet. While cannon fire marked each start, whispering zephyrs greeted the crews at water level. Would there be sufficient breeze to exit the harbour was a key concern this year, versus last year's windy conditions. All seven starting groups got away cleanly however, with several yachts putting down markers as they made the best of what wind was available. Photography courtesy Royal Malta Yacht Club, © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

By Saturday afternoon, progress this year was been as expected: exacting and demanding. The crews representing 24 countries did their best to navigate between the fluctuating cells of pressure that littered the channel between Malta and Sicily, with very little wind.

Following the start from Valletta's Grand Harbour, the fleet take on one of sailing's most scenic and challenging race courses. Covering 606-nautical miles, or approximately 1.1 kilometres, it features an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily. Leaving Malta the fleet heads north to Capo Passero, the Eastern seaboard of Sicily and on towards the Strait of Messina. From Messina, the yachts head North to the second active volcano on the course, Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands, all of which must be left to port. At the islet of Strombolicchio,

the fleet turns West along the Northern coast of Sicily towards the Egadi Islands. Leaving the Egadi Islands (except Marettimo) to port, crews head South towards the island of Lampedusa leaving Pantelleria to port. At Lampedusa, the course heads northeast to the South Comino Channel (between Comino and Malta) and the final leg to the finish line at the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour.

This year's story of the 43rd Rolex Middle Sea Race was one of determination and true grit, grinding out the miles, sometimes taking more than an hour to do so due to the lighter wind conditions, with at times very calm, almost flat, glasslike water. By day 2 the race came alive, for some at least. It really was a race of two halves, as those crews to the west stretched their legs metaphorically in a stiff southerly, and those still to the east stretched their actual legs lying on deck waiting for the wind.

Above: Start of the 43rd Rolex Middle Sea Race, with 118 yachts setting of from Te Grand Harbour, Valletta, Saturday 22nd October. Te start line is located in the centre of Grand Harbour, running from the Saluting Battery, just beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens on the Valletta side, across to Fort St. Angelo in Birgu. Photo © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

This year’s edition will be remembered for light winds, dogged determination and the remarkable imagery from the racecourse. Its character was so diametrically opposed to last year that it is hard to imagine that the two races took place over the same track at the same time of year.

ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE

Tis page: Fleet close to Strombolicchio –Little Stromboli, lying 2 km to the northeast of Stromboli, with Strombolicchio Lighthouse, located on its summit. Photo © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

By Wednesday, 26th October, the winner of the 43rd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was announced as Eric de Turckheim's French NMYD 54 Teasing Machine. At the time The Royal Malta Yacht Club confirmed that none of the remaining yachts still racing would be able to better Teasing Machine’s corrected time under IRC. “It is a huge emotion winning the Rolex Middle Sea Race,” said de Turckheim. “It is our first 600 (nm) race overall, after making several podiums around the world. On top of that, it is certainly our favourite 600nm race because of the complexity of the course, the complexity of the winds.”

The principal success stories of the 2022 Rolex Middle Sea Race recognised at the prize giving included: Teasing Machine –overall winner under IRC and recipient of the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy, Mana – multihull line honours winner and recipient of the Captain Morgan Trophy for victory under MOCRA; and Leopard 3 – monohull line honours winner and recipient of the RLR Trophy Wild Joe –ORC Category winner and recipient of the Boccale del Mediterraneo Trophy.

The 43rd Rolex Middle Sea Race now passes into legend. It was an exceptional race for very different reasons to last year, and a reminder that tough conditions include light and fickle winds as well as fast and furious. The 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 21 October 2023.

Top: Sailing Poland, Sail No: POL1, Design: VO 65, Owner: Marcin Sutkowski, IRC: Class 1. Photo © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo. Middle lef: Aragon, Sail No: NED8313, Design: Marten 72, Owner: Van Nieuwland- verder, Skipper: Tomas Biton, IRC: Class 1. Photo © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo. Lef: Ino XXX, Sail No: GBR4921R, Design: HH42, Owner: James Neville, Skipper: James Neville, IRC: Class 3. Photo © Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

POMMARD BY NIGHT OR DAY

Pommard is serendipitously named after the Roman goddess of fruit trees, Pomona, who may have had a temple to her name in the vicinity. Several historical records attest to the abbeys of Citeaux and Maizieres owning vineyards in its commune as well as the Knights of Malta throughout the Late Middle Ages, writes Kris Bonavita.

BURGUNDY –COTE D’OR –COTE DE BEAUNE –POMMARD

The twelfth chapter in This is wine: its storied place and taste. “Fruit of the earth, work of human hands, blessed be God forever”

This page: Pommard and its slopes. Photo courtesy Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), © BIVB / photography

he celebrated writer Victor Hugo of Les Miserables fame would epitomize Pommard as ‘night in combat with day’. It is just as well that we see the wine and region in this contradiction as it expresses both the ups and downs in reputation and renown as its strengths and weaknesses; revered for its intense tannic character when it hits the sublime or as too forceful and underwhelming when it fails to please. Pommard’s fame goes back centuries, but it is only of late that after a fall from grace, domaines in the region have upped the ante and made good of the past by conjuring up wines of greater calibre even if the styles of wine have turned more fruit-forward and lent themselves to ones of more grace and subtlety.

Pommard is the second largest appellation and chiefly almost exclusively produces red wine from the Pinot Noir grape variety; along the Cote de Beaune region known mainly for its white wine production that makes up the second half and southern end of the Cote D’Or golden wine trail of Burgundy. Even if other appellations in the near neighbourhood dabble in red; Volnay is only an imaginary stone’s throw away offering a more gracile red, and northernmost Corton has a handful of reds under one grand cru vineyard; Pommard offers the most structured and tannic fare requiring years of polished ageing. While only premier cru vineyards grace its lands; a whopping contiguous 27 in all, two highly acclaimed lieu-dits Les Rugiens and Les Epenots are being considered for grand cru elevation in the famously slow process of reclassification and justifiably should be looked upon as such. The vineyard owners at the time of classification were weary of accepting the stringent Grand Cru laws and may have declined to be included. But this may also have partially been a result of an over-abuse of the term Pommard in the production and sale of wine in the 19th century which led the original classifiers to not give the region more attention than it already enjoyed to its detriment.

Pommard is serendipitously named after the Roman goddess of fruit trees, Pomona, who may have had a temple to her name in the vicinity. Several historical records attest to the abbeys of Citeaux and Maizieres owning vineyards in its commune as well as the Knights of Malta throughout the Late Middle Ages. Pommard had its fair share of religious controversy when, in the Edict of Nantes, the parish expelled non-Catholics in 1685. Half a century later Chateau Pommard was built with a walled enclosure Clos Micault around some of the more prized vineyards by a certain Comte Vivant de Micault, the secretary to King Louis XV. Its eventual confiscation in the French revolution and resale to more enterprising owners follows the vagaries of other established vineyards in the region. However more than the historical ownership of Pommard vineyards, it is rather their reputation. During the last two centuries while Pinot Noir gained in popularity the red wines of the region like most of Burgundy were curiously diluted with Pinot Blanc creating a lighter-coloured wine to what we consider claret today. The fame of its wines was such that buying a bottle labelled Pommard was not necessarily a sign of quality where even the grape variety was not strictly adhered to. Short of knowing the domaine or

negociant a Pommard label was more or less a lottery due to its high demand across the Anglo-phonic world. Part of this fame was due to Pommard’s affordability in contrast to the Grand crus of Corton just slightly further north on the Cote de Beaune. This resulted in an image problem which only quite recently has begun to be balanced by more stringent standards and betterment of wines, even if negociant and domain provenance are still the most important factor to the extent that one should tread carefully when buying village label Pommard wines.

But within the scope of well-rated wines, Pommard can offer some true bargains within the sphere of stratospheric Burgundy prices. The appellation’s other distinguishing feature, over above its fabled production of powerful reds in a sea of fabled white wine, is that unlike many of the other winemaking villages, Pommard is not perched on a hill, but well secluded and ensconced around steep hills protecting it from inclement weather - and yet possibly resulting in wines of less complexity in so far as elevated exposure results in more sunlight, and colder nights add a dynamism to wines by way of full ripeness wrapped in a racy acidity. In contrast, it is rather its iron-rich shallow limestone soils that probably enshrine Pommard wine as powerful and intense with solid tannic structure and even bolder flavours.

Unlike many of the other winemaking villages, Pommard is not perched on a hill, but well secluded and ensconced around steep hills protecting it from inclement weather.

This page: The Pommard hills. Photo courtesy Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), © BIVB / photography Aurélien Ibanez.

Pommard is the principal red winemaking appellation of the Cote de Beaune, the southern half of the Cote d’Or, famous for its white wine Chardonnay-based Burgundies (in contrast to the northern half red wine producing Cote de Nuits). It comprises of 320 hectares, a third of which comprises of 27 premier cru vineyards, with some 400 wine producers in all. Although the village of Pommard is less than a mile away from that of Volnay its wines are characterized by their strength and musculature in contrast to the more subtle and gracile red wines of its southerly neighbour even though they are only divided by an imaginary line of contiguous vineyards. The village itself is situated in a steep creek or dry valley or combe ensconced between hills either side of which lie a band of uninterrupted vines up and down the spine of the Cote or slope to Beaune and beyond.

The terroir of the region can be broadly characterised into three swathes of land. The lower grounds of the slope are deep ancient alluvium resulting in villages label wines or the less prestigious Bourgogne label wines. The middle part of the slope, prized for its shallow well-draining clay-limestone soils and rocks, are where the premier crus lie. Higher up browner soils of clay and limestone, rich in iron and other minerals, grace the top of the slopes giving the wines a familiar rusticity and gaminess all of their own. Most of the vines on the slope have an east to southeast facing exposure, perfect for ripening at this latitude. More generally vineyards to the north of the village towards Beaune are famed for their shallower stonier soils on hard bedrock producing relatively more subtle but concentrated wines epitomized by their flagship lieudit Les Grands Epenots. Those to the south of Pommard heading towards Volnay have deeper iron and clay-rich soils on steeper slopes resulting in wines with more powerful flavours and dusty tannins king amongst which is the Les Rugiens premier cru. Vintage-wise, the best years for the Cote de Beaune reds are 2019, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2017, 2009, 2005 and 2002; followed by 2013, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2011.

Pommard wines are considered the most iconic of deep and powerful Burgundies, coined as the flower of the wines of Beaune. The wine is famed for its muscular structure of strong flavours and raspy tannins that need time to age even if of late winemakers have turned to styles of wine that are more accessible and even gutsy. Gamey and chewy notes as well as deepcoloured, full-bodied mouth-filling textures are affectionate signature characteristics even if some wellnoted Premier crus are enjoyed for their soft elegance. Aromas and flavours verge on the concentrated dark fruit plum and cherry with hints of leather, chocolate and pepper becoming more prevalent with age.

‘There are no great wines; only great bottles of wine’ POMMARD WINE BUYING GUIDE

Domaines Albert Bichot 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2017

exclusively represented by Mirachem

Bichot’s 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2017 is dense crimson in robe. Rich aromas of dark chocolate, cinnamon, clove, dark berried fruit and undergrowth are matched by deep flavours in the attack of energetic cassis and wild cherries. The mid-palate swerves into a smokey wood, stems and iron fillings intensity before finishing off with an exotic mineralized finish. There is a soft clay palate to the tannins unusually subtle for a young big wine even if this is broad-shouldered and high octane in shape and volume. After good breathing deep undergrowth, musk, animal hide and game bring out the red limestone tertiaries with a backbone streak of arseniclaced wild almonds, dry tea leaves and roasted nuts which will only become more delicious with good aging. This has a trifecta of elements going for it from a deep concentration to intense powers of allurement in the sensory world backed by good structure with equal measures of fruit, wood and sous bois to know that we are very

much in high pedigree mid-slope quasi-grand cru ground. In a nutshell you get all the intensity without compromising on blunt texture and weighting which essentially is the holy grail of every vigneron up and down the golden slopes of Burgundy. This is all due to the shallow mineral rich limestone soils with heavy rocks and brown clays making sure the vines have enough stress to make concentrated berries and yet have enough minerals to make every drop an elixir of all the senses.

The secret to all this is the climat of Les Rugiens the flag-ship premier cru of Pommard well on its way to being considered worthy of grand cru status. Famous for its broad-shouldered powerful wines in contrast to the more gracile and equally well-respected Les Epenots on the other side of the village. Both the energetic style of Domain Bichot is affectionately present as much as the vivid approachability of 2017 which in my eyes at least in Pommard can hold its own as one of the best recent vintages. Excellent bottle and in comparison to Cote de Nuits similar calibre wines, much better priced.

Supplier details: Mirachem has a vast selection of Burgundy wines. Mirachem, Mira Building, Triq Kan K Pirotta, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2148 8590. Web wine.mt

This page: Albert Bichot’s Domaine du Pavillon is located south of Pommard, in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyards, winery, cellar, and 18th-century manor are surrounded by a wall - the estate has 15 hectares of vines. Photo courtesy Domaines Albert Bichot © Flore Deronzier.

Domaine Chavey-Chouet 1er Cru Les Chanlins 2018

Chavy-Chouet Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins 2018 is brushed velvet crimson red. The nose is a deep lush bouquet of chocolate, clove, cinnamon, black currant and bramble berries entrenched in sous bois and bittersweet treacle. The attack is dark wild berries with all the ripeness of the vintage to the fore followed by a raspy mid-palate of soft ethereal fruit having all the nuances of top-ofslope shallower soils tinged in floral and wood notes all ending in a high octane mineralized finish ranging from gamey iron rich fillings, some rock dust, and undergrowth clays. Upon breathing a smokey tobacco, cigar drawer dimension comes through to accompany an even more powerful array of perfume musk essence and gamier notes further attesting the premier cru status of this wine and upper slope pedigree.

The premier cru climat Les Chanlins is in the southernmost end of Pommard overlooking Volnay with some of the steepest rocky sloped soils in the region making well-structured wines with a signature power and spice not too dissimilar in calibre to the quasi grand cru Les Rugiens just below. Indeed some of the smoke flavours are common to both as are the distinct brown clays and concentrated limestone; giving all the broad-shouldered ageability and intense tannins which Pommard is famous for. And yet for all its Pommard strengths some of the upper slope fragrance and elegance in the secondary range has a lot in common with the finesse of Volnay only an imaginary stone’s throw away. This is also due to the light-handed and precise touch of the domaine, more famous for their whites, which if I may say so have tamed this noble beast in a beautiful way.

As for the vintage, 2018 is a stellar year with one of the hottest and driest growing seasons after a wet spring ending in perfect harvesting conditions for growers to pick at will. This resulted in wines approachable in their peak ripeness at a young age, but equally very big wines were made which can do with some laying down to gain their full potential, especially in the premier and grand cru range. Buy to keep some, even if pricey, this is good value for money.

Domaine Roux Pommard 2012

Roux Pommard 2012 is dark burgundy with good bricking. The initial aromas are dulcet tones of sugared wild almonds and maraschino cherries with a dash of sous bois. The attack is all secondary wooded notes of bramble berries, cassis, bittersweet dark chocolate with a flinty ironfilings and bitter herbs crescendo. Good concentration and a soave depth and weight accompany the racy structure. Upon some breathing patent leather, dark baked spices, candied orange peel and molasses give away the brown clay and red soils typical of Pommard.

As such this is drinking well at ten years of age and is in full swing maturity. The fruit-forward style of Roux entry-level fare is nicely attested without overdoing it. The bodied textured mid-palate roar gives the village level away which make this enjoyably hearty (possibly vineyards southeast of the village) but it is the mineral streak that holds this wine together and in good light as typical of the region. 2012 had a wet spring and cool summer giving this vintage all the lift with some concentration saved by a warmer harvest with good yields leading to a classical turn of events that is nicely portrayed in this bottle.

exclusively represented by M. Demajo Wines & Spirits

Supplier details: M. Demajo Wines & Spirits has a vast selection of Burgundy wines from Roux Pere & Fils. M. Demajo Wines & Spirits, 103, Archbishop Street, Valletta. Tel 00356 2552 0000. Web demajowinesandspirits.com

Domaine Louis Jadot Pommard 2013

Louis Jadot Pommard 2013 starts off all ripe yet tart cherries, cranberries, crystallized ginger, leaves and stems. The entry is cherries, strawberries and iron fillings, but the coup de grace accompanying the lush fruit layers are secondary spices of vanilla, cinnamon and signature peppery clove with some sous bois depth thrown in for good measure. The wine at this stage comes across as quite light-bodied and ethereal with a serene elegance all of its own. Upon a few hours breathing the secondaries and tertiaries have gone up a level in the orange rind, tanned leather, dark mushroom and gamey undergrowth range attesting the brown clays in droves. However the crystalline fruit peaks make sure we know we are in the southern end of the Cote de Nuits with their higher concentration of limestone soils, even if the brown clay, rocks and alluvium add the spice and texture more typical of village-level Pommard. There is good lift for preservation and energy and a resounding concentration and classical style typical of the nail-biting cold wet but small-yielding vintage of 2013.

As such, there are three ages to a wine’s beauty. Burgundy reds start all floral and fruit only to slowly drift into leaves, stems and dry flowers in their middle years before finally syncretising into a balanced harmony of deep undergrowth folded into well-preserved ethereal dark red stone and berry fruit wrapped in spice, animal hide and wood. This wine is well into its teenage years sporting a quick drift into the secondaries but has room for further aging. Beautiful contradictions lie in this vintage with a soaringly classical exterior of reserve and cadence with some ripe outer flavours only to morph into a mid-palate intensity of strong power and dashing minerality of some limestone, good brown clays and iron-rich notes. Pretty good value and very representative of the region and year.

Domaine

BREAKFAST AT CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE

Emperor Charlemagne, who is believed to have ordered the planting of white grapes upon the insistence of his fourth wife, writes Kris Bonavita.

BURGUNDY –COTE D’OR –COTE DE BEAUNE –CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE

The jewel in the crown of the Corton Hill is the singularly white grand cru of Corton- Charlemagne. At the top edge of a large limestone outcrop shielded by a patch of dense woodland, around 52 hectares of hallowed sloped grounds fall under this accolade and chiefly produce Chardonnay wines which broadly speaking are pretty homogenous in their calibre and profile. In contrast to the Corton reds grown below, the shallow clay topsoil has eroded to almost bare limestone and marl layers and has a marginally cooler meso-climate. The classic Corton Charlemagne white is known for its finesse with good structure evolving with time from a purity of poached white fruit to more complex flavours perfectly aligned with a creamed buttery and flint-inflected mineralized backbone keeping the peaked fruit and fragrant toasted spice in check.

The grand cru takes its title from one of its previous owners, the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne who is believed to have ordered the planting of white grapes upon the insistence of his fourth wife, Luitgard, since his love of red wine stained his white beard.

Maison Latour is the largest landowner in the appellation having fields enviously placed on the southeastern side with good sun exposure and stony richer marls leading to even more structured fuller bodied and cellar-worthy wines. Chardonnay is perfect here for its ability to adapt to various soils, and hardiness to cool weather, reliably ripening to have enough sugar rarely needing chaptalization.

Latour Corton-Charlemagne 2017 is light straw in robe. The initial aromas are poached pears, toasted almonds, winter melon and butterscotch. The attack is a satiny caramelized confection of white fruit with a medium weighting opening up to apple blossoms, rhubarb, lychee and a tangy lemon peel finale. A racy structure typical of athletic 2017, a full-bodied ripeness, a granular bitter-sweet minerality, and a crystalline purity to the primaries with a fatty streak slivering to counterbalance the flint-infused touch of petroleum, cut grass and green tea leaves finish, attest the DNA of this fabulous Grand cru. Upon chilled breathing the wine melted into an elixir of butterscotch popcorn blanketed in a brioche Crème Chantilly

and lemon curd middle ending in a toasted nut roulade serving. At first glance this feels like an Arvo Part symphony with disjointed parts of beautiful notes and minimalist chords, somewhat dissonant in relation to the more balanced Montrachets but with time this beauty of a wine swans itself up to blossom into something both regal and cerebral. Mind-bogglingly full-bodied and fairy light in tandem, this defies one’s sensuous expectations and when I least expected the harmony was unbelievable. This is where white wine has an edge over red. You just cannot get subtlety-infused buttery textures with no disturbance from stronger fruit without compromising on the weighting and it is this very shallow calm water that unveils mesmerising depths.

Supplier

This page: Maison Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne vineyards, with the Charlemagne Cross. Photo courtesy Maison Louis Latour © Serge Chapuis.

SPANISH TAPAS

Various legends exist about the origins of tapas - an age-old tradition in Spanish inns and taverns. One legend has it that during the reign of King Alfonso X "The Wise" in the 13th century, a decree was passed that small snacks had to be served as an accompaniment to drinks to prevent drunkenness. In the 18th century in taverns and "bodegas" (wine cellars) wine was usually offered by the glass, and you could sample some of the foods sold there - since few innkeepers and few travellers could read or write, inns offered guests samples of the available dishes on a "tapa" - a pot cover. Another legend places the origins of the tapas tradition in Andalusia, where drinks such as sherry would be covered with a piece of cheese or sausage to protect them from dust or flies during the hot summer weather. Normally ham or chorizo was used, salty meats that activate thirst. Because of this, tavern owners began creating a variety of snacks to serve with the drinks, and the tapas eventually became as important as the drink itself. Today tapas mix the concept of eating and socializing, and the variety of tapas is greatdepending largely on where you find yourself in Spain - or anywhere in the world. Here Mediterranean Culinary Academy prepares some firm favourites, making use of a variety of herbs and spices, popular in Spanish cuisine, to bring up the flavour.

“El aceite de oliva es armero, relojero y curandero.” “Olive oil is a gunsmith, a watchmaker and a healer.” Spanish proverb

Cooking and main food photography Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

Photography this page Zahrin Lukman.

TAPAS

Historically croquetas were made from leftovers, and in Spain ham, cheese or potato croquetas are especially popular. Salt cod croquettes, a traditional dish from Valencia, can be found in tapas bars across Spain. They are delicious served with a good Allioli (see recipe end of this article).

SERVES 4

100g salted cod

300g potatoes, peeled, cubed

3 garlic cloves, smashed

2 sprigs thyme

1/2 bunch parsley

1 bay leaf

1 egg

40g parsley, finely chopped

50g shallots, finely chopped

7g salt

15g cream

500g flour

frying oil as needed

1. Place potatoes, garlic cloves, thyme, and bay leaf into a small pan. Add enough water to cover. Season with a healthy pinch of salt.

2. Bring to a boil. Reduce to 80C and add salted cod.

3. Once potatoes are tender, drain off water. Transfer cod and potatoes to a bowl, discard garlic, thyme and bay leaf.

4. Mash potatoes and salt cod together using a potato masher. Allow to cool.

5. Once cool, incorporate egg, shallots and parsley. Use cream if mash too thick and doesn't ball up well.

6. Spread croquetas mixture onto a tray, cover with baking paper, and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

7. Ball croquetas with your hands to roughly 2-3cm diameter. Roll them in flour and place on a tray.

8. To fry, preheat pot of oil to 180C. Once oil is at temperature, gently place 3-4 crouqetas into oil using a slotted spoon.

9. Cook till golden brown all around then remove from oil using a slotted spoon.

10. Drain on paper towels and season with salt. Serve immediately.

Photography this page Gaby Yerden.

SUNKISSED IN CRETE, HARVESTED BY HAND

This olive’s “natural juice” has all its ingredients intact thanks to the diligent process it undergoes from cultivation to pressing. Cultivated in Sitia, on the island of Crete, in an area world-famous for the quality of its olive oil, the olive trees grow in excellent soil conditions and in a special microclimate. Obtained through cold extraction and solely by mechanical means a few hours after harvest, this Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced exclusively from the superior “Koroneiki” variety which offer a superb balance between bitter, spicy and fruity flavours and a distinct emerald shade.

Escalivida

The name has its origin in the verb escalivar, which literally means "to roast on embers". It is made up of red pepper, aubergine, tomato and onion, which take on a smoky and roasted flavour. In the absence of embers, this escalivada is made by roasting the vegetables in the oven.

from

allow

to cool on

Peel, de-seed, and cut peppers into strips. Peel and cut eggplant into strips.

Cut onions into bite size wedges.

Combine and season with olive oil, salt, pepper and some vinegar.

Pulpo con Pimenton OCTOPUS

SUNDAY DESSERT IDEAS

The secret to the sweet shortcrust pastry for this recipe, pâte sucrée, lies in the addition of heavy whipping cream when making the pastry. The egg yolks and added cream give a rich sandy dough –the result is a sweet crumbly crust that is ideal to make a number of French dessert tarts. It can also be made ahead and chilled for up to 4 days. The filling is then a quick preparation folding crème fraîche with whipped cream, to give a lovely light dessert, perfect for a Sunday lunch. Any of your favourite seasonal fresh fruit may be used. Bon appetit!

Photography Jordane Mathieu.

butter, cold & cut into 12 chunks

Mix yolk, cream, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Set aside.

Add flour, sugar, and salt to a large bowl or food processor and combine, roughly 10 seconds. 3. Add cold butter, pulse 10-15 times on high to a crumbly texture with some butter chunks. If mixing by hand, rub butter into flour until coarse mixture is formed, with small butter chunks left. 4. Add cream mixture slowly. If dough lumps into a ball in processor, turn off –do not overmix.

5. Turn pastry out onto clean surface, pat into a 15cm round. Do not overwork or butter will melt. Wrap dough tightly, refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 4 days.

6. Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface to about 3mm thick, turning to make sure pastry is even (if refrigerated for over 30 minutes allow to soften before rolling).

7. Place in tart tin, pressing into mold. Cut excess with a knife, leaving a 2.5cm lip around. Prick the crust with a fork all over and freeze for 30 minutes. (At this stage the crust can be frozen for up to 2 days - wrapped.) Pastry should be ice cold before baking.

8. Preheat oven to 190C. Cover tart pastry with baking paper, and with dry beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes, remove weights and paper and bake until golden brown, roughly 5-10 minutes. Place tart tin on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before use.

Whisk crème fraîche with sugar until smooth. In a separate bowl whip cream until firm. Fold crème fraîche gently into whipped cream with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Spread evenly over cooled crust. Top tart with selection of fruit and berries to taste.

and juices. Boil on medium heat gently for 1 minute. Remove and cool completely. Once cooled brush lightly over fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

TASTE THE QUALITY

This page: The Pipe Organ in Saint John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta.

EVENTFUL AND DIVERSE

The 9th Malta International Organ Festival

The Malta International Organ Festival returns for the ninth consecutive year in a series of inspiring concerts around Malta and Gozo, presenting many renowned international artists and choirs, writes Denise Rejec. Main photography Reuben Chircop.

THE NDSF 5TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

The popular Malta International Organ Festival is returning to the islands’ beautiful churches, cathedrals, and theatres to present the public with the opportunity to discover Malta’s heritage through music. It is organised and artistically directed by the Maltese baritone Dr. Joseph Lia and has become a well-known staple in the Malta arts and music calendar.

This year, the festival will comprise as many as 11 concerts, four of which are not-to-be-missed highlights, including the grand opening concert that kicked off the festival on November 19, the NDSF 5th Anniversary Concert on November 25, a unique masterpiece by Mussorgsky performed by an internationally renowned organist on November 29, and the grand finale on December 6.

VIVALDI’S GLORIA FOR THE GRAND OPENING CONCERT

The grand opening concert’s highlight was Vivaldi’s Gloria sung by the Ukraine-based Kiev Baroque Consort female choir under the baton of Nancy Milesis Romano. It is worth mentioning that the choir sang Vivaldi’s original score, which he composed for the orphaned girls of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice back in the early 18th century.

Vivaldi held the orphaned girls in such high regard that he taught them music and composed for them. He also trusted them with singing the chorus parts written for tenor and bass.Vivaldi’s Gloria gained international recognition in the 20th century due to numerous recordings and performances by choirs and period-instrument performers alike. It is a demanding piece involving leaping octaves, emphatic choral cords, and shifts in mood.

Two other pieces accompanied the concert’s Vivaldi highlight: Oboist Ismaïl Mourtada performed Albinoni's Oboe Concerto Op. 9 No. 2, and Baritone Joseph Lia took the stage to sing a string of sacred arias. The grand opening concert took place on Saturday, November 19, at the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta.

The second festival highlight is the NDSF 5th Anniversary Concert, happening on November 25 at St John’s Co-Cathedral Valletta. Adolf Alejo from Mexico will conduct the Rheinberger Organ Concerto No. 2, Op. 177, a concerto for organ and orchestra that’s probably being performed in Malta for the first time. Alejo will also play the solo violin in Respighi’s arrangement of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor. Vitali had written the piece for violin and continuo, which Respighi arranged for strings, violin solo, and organ. The concert will also comprise solo organ pieces by J.S. Bach and one of Malta’s prominent composers Christopher Muscat. Liliia Pechenkina, the organist who won last year’s festival competition will perform the organ solos, and baritone Joseph Lia will sing arias from oratorios for bass, including the Großer Herr und starker König from J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

MUSSORGSKY’S PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION

The third festival highlight is Svetlana Vladimirovna’s performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition on the organ at St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, on November 29. Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite of 10 piano pieces, that was later also orchestrated for orchestra, and is considered Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition and a showpiece for virtuoso pianists.

GRAND CLOSING CONCERT ‘AMORE SACRO –AMORE PROFANO’

The fourth festival highlight is the grand closing concert, ‘Amore Sacro – Amore Profano’ –a Baroque Vocal Concert, featuring Italian musicians Roberta Mameli (soprano), Luca Oberti (organ), and Noelia Reverte Reche (viola da gamba), on December 6 at the beautiful Manoel Theatre in Valletta. The opportunity to watch and listen to singer Roberta Mameli is not to be missed. She’s known for her charismatic stage presence, for a voice that mesmerises and captures the audience, and for occupying major roles in international performances. This is the first time that the organ festival is using the Manoel Theatre as one of its locations.

CONCERTS FOR THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL

Another seven concerts are lined up for the Malta International Organ Festival. On Sunday, November 20, organist Frantisek Vanicek from the Czech Republic will perform pieces from the early music period up until the 21st century at Gozo's Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption in Cittadella. Following that, on November 23 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta, St Julian’s, Bernhard Gferer from Austria will give a solo organ concert featuring works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Gigout, Dubois, and Guilmant.

On November 26, organist Mattias Gieson and cellist Thomas Wall will give an organ and cello concert at St Theresa Church, Cospicua. A students’ concert will be held on November 30 at St Helen’s Basilica, Birkirkara, followed by ‘The Spanish Golden Era and Beyond’ solo organ concert with Augusto Belau on the organ on December 1 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Ghaxaq.

Michael Mages (organ) and Semjon Kalinowsky (viola) will perform in ‘A Journey Through Europe’ on December 2 at Sacro Cuor Parish Church, Sliema, where the organ has recently been restored by Robert Buhagiar. A dose of Christmas joy can be enjoyed on December 3 during the ‘Christmas Prelude’ organ and trumpet concert with Franco Cefai and Jason Camilleri at St Mark’s Church, Rabat.

The Malta International Organ Festival 2022 runs until December 6. Visit www.MaltaInternationalOrganFestival.com for the full programme. Tickets can be bought from TicketLine.com.mt and the Manoel Theatre booking office. The festival is mainly supported by the NDSF, and also Arts Council Malta.

Soprano Roberta Mameli in "Santa Pelagia", Festival di Nepi 2016. Photography courtesy Roberta Mameli.

The Faraxa Story

Set up in November 2011 by Joanne Micallef, Faraxa Publishing House was established with the aim of publishing literary and non-literary translations, while not excluding other genres of writing. Faraxa is now expanding both internationally, as well as in writing genres published, which include academia, poetry, fiction, non-fiction and children’s publications, says Joanne Micallef.

BOOK SPOTLIGHTS

“The story of how I created Faraxa is imbued with serendipity and happenstance.Faraxa is the Arabic wordfor butterfly, and the upward spiral in the logo is reminiscent of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. My degree is in Archaeology, with a specialisation in Near Eastern studies.I worked for a number of years as a Hotel Manager, and never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined becoming ensconced in the literary world. However, in 2004 a momentous event paved my way towards the publishing industry.

An acquaintance suggested that I read the ground-breaking work, Many Masters, Many Lives by the famed psychiatrist Brian L. Weiss. This powerful book touched me. I felt the deep urge to translate it into Maltese, to make its profound content available locally. To this end, I read for a Master’s degree in Translation. At the time, not even the English version of the book was available in Malta.

Translating Many Masters, Many Lives was a very time-consuming and arduous task. The dearth of essential academic vocabulary to define psychiatric, psychological and paranormal terms in the Maltese language made it even more problematic.However, with the indefatigable help and support of my principal tutor, Prof. Anthony Aquilina, Ħafna Ħajjiet, ĦafnaMgħallmin, was launched by Weiss himself in 2011, during a seminar at Logan Hall in London.

In November2011 Faraxa Publishing House was establishedwith the aim of publishing literary and non-literary translations, while not excluding other genres of writing. Faraxa is now expanding both internationally, as well as in writing genres published, which include academia, poetry, fiction, non-fiction and children’s publications.“

THE FARAXA TRANSLATION SERIES

The FaraxaTranslation Seriesis quite unique for Malta,and was launchedin November 2011. To date it comprisestwenty-sixtranslatedworks from various languages.

Il-Waqgħa (La Chute)by Albert Camus, winner of The Nobel Prize in Literature 1957; L-AllatalĦerba (Le Dieu du Carnage), winner of the Translation Category of the National Book Prize 2013; Passjoni Sempliċi (PassionSimple)by Annie Ernaux, winner of The Nobel Prize in Literature 2022; and Anne Frank: Id-Djarju ta’ Tfalja (Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl), winner of the Translation Category of the National Book Prize 2022 are but four of the prestigious works available in translation.

Anne Frank:

comparison with translations in other languages.

Francesco Azopardi

This Diary of a Young Girl, or as it is better known, The Diary of Anne Frank, is the 21st translation in the Faraxa Translation Series, and translated into Maltese by Mary Rose Mifsud from Susan Masotty's English version. This book includes the text itself of Anne Frank’s Diary as edited by Otto Frank and Mirjam Pressler and presented in the definitive edition released in 2007, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its first publication in 1947.

This edition of the Diary opens with an Introduction by Professor Oliver Friggieri in which he reflects on the historical importance of the Diary and its moral value, as well as taking a brief critical look at this translation. It follows a Translator’s Note in which Mifsud describes the process she used in her translation and explains why she came to certain language choices, sometimes even in

This book includes Massotty’s Foreword. They follow detailed notes on the personages and locations mentioned in the original text, as well as on some historical events and some important words to fully understand Anne's writings. These notes are aimed at Maltese readers who want to deepen the knowledge of the text and increase the pleasure they derive from reading it. For this reason the notes include information about what happened to people and places even after the Diary ends. Mifsud did her best to extend this information until her book went to print. Some of the notes also give readers the opportunity to compare what Anne Frank mentions with what was happening in Malta at the same time.

In the Fact, Controversies, Updates section, Mifsud recounts several episodes from the Diary event from when it was first published in 1947 to the present day. This translation also includes a number of photographs of the people mentioned in the Diary, as well as an extensive Bibliography which should encourage readers to further broaden their knowledge of the Holocaust and other historical events.

(1748 - 1809):

Maltese Classical Composer and Theorist by

Dion Buhagiar

(FINALIST IN THE BIOGRAPHICAL OR HISTORIOGRAPHIC RESEARCH –THE NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE 2019)

In the last few years, more interest and demand has been generated in performing the music of Francesco Azopardi, particularly by Maltese musicians, European choirs and orchestras. The strength of Azopardi’s music lies in the fact that it was always written with a specific purpose or commemoration in mind –such as the famous Requiem Mass in F minor which was commissioned for the death of King Leopold II of Austria. The book demonstrates Azopardi as a prolific composer who was in touch with the mainstream ideas of the most important European musical centres such as Naples, Paris and Monaco di Baviera (Munich), among other places. Azopardi composed several larger works such as the Oratorio La Passione di Cristo, three Grande Messa (also known as Messa di Gloria) for two choirs, soloists and two orchestras, with arias and choruses reflecting the Neapolitan operatic style of Nicola Piccinni and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, as well as a large number of psalms, te deums, solemn hymns and sequences. There have also been attempts at editing and publishing, performing and recording of his instrumental music, especially the sinfonias.

The Diary of a Child (WINNER OF THE TRANSLATION CATEGORY –NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE 2022)

Azopardi’s musical dedication, however, was directed towards the composition of music for the cathedral, in concordance with his role as Maestro di Cappella, as well as teaching composition through his own treatises: Il Musico Prattico (I) and Il Musico Pratico (II). These two treatises are here presented for the first time in their proper historical perspective.

The Boats of Malta: The Art of the Fishermen

by Desmond Morris

NEW TITLE Storja Medika ta’ Malta –Paul Cassar (trans. Godwin Ellul)

of Malta –

The Art of the Fishermen sets out to record one of the major art forms of the Maltese Islands – the painted fishing boats. Each boat is a work of art. It would function just as well if it were painted an overall grey, but instead it displays a complex pattern of bright colours. Each boat has a unique pattern of colours and yet it remains unmistakably Maltese. Studying the complex variations of these colours reveals that each boat-owner is not only a practical fisherman but also an artist. So this book is a study of a local art form that adorns the coastline of Malta and that has done so for many years. It is also a record of the design and history of these boats.

Storja Medika ta’ Malta is the brand-new Maltese translation of Paul Cassar’s 1964 tome Medical History of Malta, translated by Godwin Ellul.

Being in the centre of the Mediterranean, as well as being colonised by great forces in the Western world throughout history, means that Malta has quite an extensive history. Malta has played a pivotal role in the medical history of Western civilisation, most particularly during World War II. Therefore, this book not only looks at Malta’s medical history, but also the rest of Europe’s as a consequence.

This immensely detailed work is the result of incredible research on Cassar’s part, and it felt necessary that such a masterpiece be made available to a wider range of readers. Ellul’s translation is a necessary piece of literature, and one that will certainly appeal to local readers who have an interest in history or medicine – or both!

Storja Medika ta’ Malta is published in hardback by Faraxa Publishing, and can be ordered from www.faraxabooks.com

For more information on these and other titles available visit www.faraxabooks.com

The books will also be available at the 2022 Malta Book Festival, Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November, at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali.

The Boats

Leggilo i n

it i n Aqrah bit

n italiano n Italian it-Taljan

BOOTH 29 at the Malta Book Festival airs & Conventions Centre tastes and ages

World Diabetes Day, every 14th November, is a global occasion on which people with diabetes, health professionals, and the general public unite to raise awareness of diabetes.

Around 6% of the world’s population suffer from type 2 diabetes. People of any age can develop the condition, but the number of older adults with type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide. There are many ways type 2 diabetes can be managed including controlling weight through diet and exercise –indeed exercise, beyond physical benefits can have many positive long term mental benefits.

WHY TREATMENT PLANS MAY NEED TO BE DIFFERENT FOR OLDER ADULTS

Treating Type 2 Diabetes

Around 6% of the world’s population suffer from type 2 diabetes. People of any age can develop the condition, but the number of older adults with type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide. In fact, adults over the age of 65 now account for almost half of all adult cases. There are many ways type 2 diabetes can be managed – including controlling weight through diet and exercise, or taking a drug to manage blood sugar levels. But many people may not realise that type 2 diabetes in older adults can be more complicated to manage. This means people over 65 may need to be managed differently when it comes to type 2 diabetes, writes James Brown, Associate Professor in Biology and Biomedical Science and Srikanth Bellary, Clinical Associate Professor, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Aston University. Photography Wesley Tingey.

There are a number of reasons why type 2 diabetes may be more difficult to manage in older adults. First, ageing can affect blood sugar control, as the body’s organs (such as the pancreas, which controls insulin and blood sugar levels) lose their ability to work as well as they used to.

On top of this, some research has shown that diabetes may cause people to age faster. It’s thought that this is due to high levels of sugar in the bloodstream prematurely ageing the body’s cells. This premature ageing could lead to diseases associated with age-related decline (such as arthritis or dementia) happening sooner.

Frailty – a state of health that is associated with reduced physical and mental resilience in older adults – also affects more people with type 2 diabetes than the rest of the population. In fact, an estimated 25% of older adults with type 2 diabetes are also frail. People who are frail and have type 2 diabetes have poorer health and increased risk of death from all causes

compared to those who are not frail. Frailty is associated with reduced physical and cognitive functions and increased risk of low blood sugar. Both of these factors can make treating type 2 diabetes more complicated.

Dementia, which is more common in older adults, may also make it more difficult to manage type 2 diabetes. This is because the memory problems this condition causes may make it harder for patients to remember to take their medication, or take the proper medication dosage. What’s more, type 2 diabetes in older adults is actually a risk factor for developing dementia –including Alzheimer’s disease.

While the link between the two isn’t fully understood, elevated blood sugar levels and insulin not working properly have been suggested as causes.

Having other health conditions can also make it more difficult to treat diabetes. Up to 40% of older adults with type 2 diabetes have four or more co-existing diseases – such as heart disease or dementia. These conditions can make it impossible to achieve normal treatment targets and the drugs used to treat

them can interact with those used to treat diabetes – which could lead to harm if not managed carefully. Alongside this, poor access to proper medical care, and being more susceptible to low blood sugar in older age are also reasons why treating diabetes can be so difficult in this age group.

MANAGING TYPE 2 DIABETES

Most medical treatments for type 2 diabetes work to keep blood sugar levels low, and prevent them from spiking. But older adults with type 2 diabetes may actually have an increased risk of developing dangerously low blood sugar levels. This usually happens if the medication is not used at the correct dose, or in people who have had diabetes for a long time.

Having very low blood sugar levels is dangerous as it can increase the risk of falls – a serious and sometimes life-threatening problem in older adults. Very low blood sugar levels also increase the risk of heart problems. This means that healthcare professionals need to be careful they aren’t being too aggressive in treatment plans for older adults to avoid causing other health problems. Ageing may also alter the body’s response to low blood sugar. This is significant, as when blood sugar falls too low it is extremely dangerous and can even

be fatal.

Older adults may also be less able to recognise the symptoms of low blood sugar compared to young adults. This is because symptoms such as dizziness and confusion are often less specific in older adults, and can be confused with dementia. Older adults may also take longer to recover from low blood sugar.

Given that repeated bouts of low blood sugar can mean that older people are less able to sense when it’s happened in the future, it’s important that drugs prescribed to older adults for type 2 diabetes are given at the correct doses. Care especially needs to be taken prescribing insulin, the body’s blood sugar control hormone, to very old adults as this significantly increases the risk of low blood sugar.

Given our ageing population, it is projected that more older adults will have type 2 diabetes in the future. This makes it especially important to improve how we treat diabetes in this age group. Though specific treatment guidelines have been developed, some evidence suggests that care approaches need to be more cautious and personalised to each patient, taking into account their other health conditions, and that treatments consider quality of life for each patient. This article first appeared on The Conversation.

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETES AND DEMENTIA?

Diabetes and Dementia: Is There a Link?

Diabetes is a chronic health problem affecting millions of individuals globally. It means the body cannot produce enough insulin or use it correctly. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to convert glucose from food into energy. Type 2 diabetes and dementia represent two of the greatest public health challenges in our ageing society. Worldwide the World Health Organization estimates that 422 million adults have diabetes and at the same time, 55 million people live with dementia. Several key studies have established that diabetes is a risk factor for dementia that nearly doubles the risk, writes Mr Alex Gobey at Active Ageing and Community Care. Photography Wesley Tingey.

There are various theories on how diabetes could lead to dementia. Diabetes affects the heart and increased blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, which can lead to dementia. However, strokes alone do not fully explain the association, as some research shows that diabetes can increase the risk of dementia without a history of stroke.

Chronic diabetes leads to the narrowing of the small arteries and capillaries that deliver fresh oxygen and nutrition throughout the body, including the brain. High blood pressure and elevated lipids, both of which are common in people with diabetes, can lead to cerebrovascular damage, which might increase the risk of vascular dementia.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar may contribute. Controlling blood sugar typically

reduces the long-term risks of heart disease and stroke, but research has shown that it may also lead to memory loss and dementia. A potential reason is that low blood sugar damages the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory retrieval.

Several studies have theorized that diabetes directly causes Alzheimer’s disease. This research found that insulin plays a critical role in forming amyloid plaques. Researchers have found that high blood sugar levels can increase beta-amyloid, a protein that occurs naturally in the brain. Beta-amyloid is an adhesive substance, and abnormal levels can lead to it forming clumps or plaques. These plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Diabetes and dementia are both complex

conditions, meaning that various factors can affect someone’s life expectancy. For example, someone with diabetes who does not manage their glucose levels properly or care for themselves will likely have a shorter life expectancy than someone with well-managed diabetes.

People with diabetes and dementia often have other chronic conditions that can further complicate their health. Having both conditions is expected to shorten life expectancy. A study by Frison E, Dufouil C, Helmer C, Berr C, Auriacombe S, and Chêne G. (2019) linked diabetes with a higher dementia and mortality risk. During the 12year longitudinal study of 8,328 participants, the researchers associated diabetes with an increased risk of dementia and a lower dementia-free life expectancy.

Dementia-free life expectancy for a 70year-old with diabetes was 13.4 years for females and 16.1 years for males. Among those without the condition, the results were 16.5 years and 19.6 years for females and males, respectively.

People living with diabetes and dementia require special care and management. Therefore, working with a doctor to develop a comprehensive treatment plan is important. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing diabetes and dementia. However, caregivers must understand the impact of dementia on a person’s understanding of their diabetes.

The individual may not undertake self-care tasks, such as managing their medication and monitoring their blood glucose levels. Moreover, individuals with dementia have a higher risk of hypoglycemia than people without the condition. They may also be at risk of drug interactions and adverse reactions due to taking multiple medications. The primary management approach involves helping the individual to be as independent as possible. This may include motivational interventions or educational programs. Although this is appropriate in the earlier stages of dementia, a person will become less able to care for themselves as dementia progresses, and interventions may instead have to focus on caregivers.

People can adjust their lifestyles to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Depending on their current lifestyle, the steps to take may include:

LOSING WEIGHT: For people with excess body weight, losing 5–7% of their weight may reduce the risk of diabetes.

MOVING MORE: Aim for a minimum of

30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week is important.

EATING A NUTRITIOUS DIET: A wellbalanced diet should focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. It is best to limit the intake of sugary drinks and processed foods.

STOPPING SMOKING: People who smoke are 30-40% more likely to develop

type 2 diabetes than those who do not.

There are currently no proven approaches that can treat or fully prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. However research has proven that taking the steps above, if applicable, can help.

For more information related to dementia care and support, one can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1771.

BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL. The ancient Araucaria Araucana outlived the dinosaurs and is a survivor from the Jurassic era, nearly 145 million years ago. The evergreen tree, which can grow to a height of over 48 metres, has a millennia-long lifespan. With its distinct spiny leaves and scaly branches, scientists believe that Araucaria evolved these unusual features as a defense against towering, long-necked dinosaurs. Cultivated in gardens and parks worldwide, Monkey puzzle trees are only found in the wild in Chile and Argentina on the slopes of Patagonia's volcanoes, and today scientists are classifying the tree as endangered. The temperate forest where the monkey puzzle tree thrives has been reduced due to fires, land clearing, overgrazing, and logging. It is ironic and mind-blowing that a tree that survived towering dinosaurs is struggling against mankind.

n just days, our planet’s population will cross a new threshold. The 8 billionth member of our human family will be born. This milestone puts into perspective what this climate conference is all about. How will we answer when “Baby 8 Billion” is old enough to ask: "What did you do for our world - and for our planet - when you had the chance?"

This UN Climate Conference is a reminder that the answer is in our hands. And the clock is ticking. We are in the fight of our lives. And we are losing. Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing. Global temperatures keep rising. And our planet is fast

approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible. We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.

The war in Ukraine, other conflicts, have caused so much bloodshed and violence and have had dramatic impacts all over the world. But we cannot accept that our attention is not focused on climate change. We must of course work together to support peace efforts and end the tremendous suffering.

But climate change is on a different timeline, and a different scale. It is the defining issue of our age. It is the central challenge of our century. It is unacceptable, outrageous and selfdefeating to put it on the back burner.

Indeed, many of today’s conflicts are linked with growing climate chaos. The war in Ukraine has exposed the profound risks of our fossil fuel addiction. Today’s crises cannot be an excuse for backsliding or greenwashing. If anything, they are a reason for greater urgency, stronger action and effective accountability.

Human activity is the cause of the climate problem. So human action must be the solution. Action to reestablish ambition. And action to rebuild trust - especially between North and South.

The science is clear: any hope of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees means achieving global net zero emissions by 2050. But that 1.5

“I

ENVIRONMENT: THE DEFINING ISSUE OF OUR AGE

Battle for Survival

degree goal is on life support - and the machines are rattling. We are getting dangerously close to the point of no return. And to avoid that dire fate, all G20 countries must accelerate their transition now - in this decade. Developed countries must take the lead. But emerging economies are also critical to bending the global emissions curve. Last year in Glasgow, I called for coalitions of support for high-emitting emerging economies to accelerate the transition from coal towards renewables. We are making progress with the Just Energy Transition Partnerships - but much more is needed. That is why at the beginning of COP27, I am calling for a historic

Pact between developed and emerging economies - a Climate Solidarity Pact.

A Pact in which all countries make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade in line with the 1.5-degree goal. A Pact in which wealthier countries and International Financial Institutions provide financial and technical assistance to help emerging economies speed their own renewable energy transition. A Pact to end dependence on fossil fuels and the building of new coal plantsphasing out coal in OECD countries by 2030 and everywhere else by 2040.

A Pact that will provide universal, affordable, sustainable energy for all. A Pact in which developed and

emerging economies unite around a common strategy and combine capacities and resources for the benefit of humankind. The two largest economies - the United States and China - have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make this Pact a reality. This is our only hope of meeting our climate goals. Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact - or a Collective Suicide Pact."

Extract from the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres' remarks at the high-level opening of COP27 Climate Implementation Summit Sharm el-Sheikh, 7 November 2022.

“Humanity has a choice –cooperate or perish”, said United Nations

Secretary General António Guterres at

the start of the COP27 climate summit this November in

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Photography Gustavo Zambelli, Araucaria, Patagonia.

COP27

From 6 to 18 November, Heads of State, ministers, and negotiators, along with climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives and CEOs met in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh for the largest annual gathering on climate action. The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP27 - aimed to build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency - from urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience, and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries. Faced with a growing energy crisis, record greenhouse gas concentrations, and increasing extreme weather events, COP27 sought to renew solidarity between countries, to deliver on the landmark Paris Agreement, for people and the planet.

Discussions at COP27 began near the end of a year that has seen devastating floods and unprecedented heat waves, severe droughts and formidable storms, all unequivocal signs of the unfolding climate emergency. At the same time, millions of people throughout the world are confronting the impacts of simultaneous crises in energy, food, water and cost of living, aggravated by severe geopolitical conflicts and tensions. In this adverse context, some countries have begun to stall or reverse climate policies and doubled down on fossil fuel use.

COP27 also took place against the backdrop of inadequate ambition to curb greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CO2 emissions need to be cut 45% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels to meet the central Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. This is crucial to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall. A report published by UN Climate Change ahead of COP27 showed that whilst countries are bending the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward, efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Since COP26 in Glasgow, only 29 out of 194 countries came forward with tightened national plans.

“W

ith the Paris Rulebook essentially concluded thanks to COP26 in Glasgow last year, the litmus test of this and every future COP is how far deliberations are accompanied by action. Everybody, every single day, everywhere in the world, needs to do everything they possibly can to avert the climate crisis,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. “COP27 sets out a new direction for a new era of implementation: where outcomes from the formal and informal process truly begin to come together to drive greater climate progress - and accountability for that progress,” Mr. Stiell said.

In his opening address, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary asked governments to focus on three critical areas at COP27. The first is a transformational shift to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and putting negotiations into concrete actions. The second is cementing progress on the critical workstreams of mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage, while stepping up finance notably to tackle the impacts of climate change. The third is enhancing the delivery of the principles of transparency and accountability throughout the UN Climate Change process.

The Egyptian COP27 Presidency has set out an ambitious vision for this COP that puts human needs at the heart of our global efforts to address climate change. The Presidency intends to

focus the world’s attention on key elements that address some of the most fundamental needs of people everywhere, including water security, food security, health and energy security.

Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP27 President said: “We’re gathering this year at a time when global climate action is at a watershed moment. Multilateralism is being challenged by geopolitics, spiraling prices, and growing financial crises, while several countries battered by the pandemic have barely recovered, and severe and depleting climate change-induced disasters are becoming more frequent. COP27 creates a unique opportunity in 2022 for the world to unite, to make multilateralism work by restoring trust and coming together at the highest levels to increase our ambition and action in fighting climate change. COP27 must be remembered as the ‘Implementation COP’ – the one where we restore the grand bargain that is at the centre of the Paris Agreement.”

A number of key Ministerial and other events around current climate change efforts took place during the COP. These included a first ministerial round table on pre-2030 ambition and continued discussions on the global stocktake - a process for countries and stakeholders to see where they’re collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement - and where they’re not. These discussions got underway at the

THE PARIS AGREEMENT

Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2022 and picked up where they left off at COP27. Together, all the COP27 events provided Ministers and participants with a space to have frank and open discussions on progress made to date. Climate Action undertaken by a diversity of stakeholders working to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement was showcased throughout COP27. The COP27 Presidency hosted a series of events in thematic days from 9-17 November which highlighted practical solutions to the challenge of climate change and explored approaches to immediately scale up the implementation of these solutions in key sectors with all stakeholders. Under the guidance of two high-level climate Champions, Nigel Topping (UK) and Mahmoud Mohieldin (Egypt) progress, plans and targets for a range of sectors and initiatives were presented in dozens of events in the Climate Action Zone in COP.

These events focused on the overarching theme of turning climate pledges into climate action in pursuit of net-zero emissions, enhanced resilience for the most vulnerable, and aligning financial flows with these goals. In addition, UNFCCC supported sectoral initiatives in sectors such as sports, fashion, tourism, events and aviation and announced higher ambition and increased collaboration to align these sectors with the 1.5 degree Celsius target of the Paris Agreement.

WHAT IS THE PARIS AGREEMENT? THE MAIN AIM OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT IS TO KEEP THE GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE RISE THIS CENTURY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century. The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects

HOW IS PROGRESS TRACKED?

With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received. It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports. The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals. This will lead to recommendations for countries to set more ambitious plans in the next round.

WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED SO FAR?

Although climate change action needs to be massively increased to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the years since its entry into force have already sparked lowcarbon solutions and new markets. More and more countries, regions, cities and companies are establishing carbon neutrality targets. Zero-carbon solutions are becoming competitive across economic sectors representing 25% of emissions. This trend is most noticeable in the power and transport sectors and has created many new business opportunities for early movers. By 2030, zerocarbon solutions could be competitive in sectors representing over 70% of global emissions.

Are you ready to Activate Change?

Climate change is hitting our world faster as we speak. News about the current changes in the planet's climate are transforming the world. Over the last two decades we have experienced 18 of the warmest years on record, and extreme weather events, such as forest fires, heatwaves and floods, are becoming more frequent in Europe and beyond. However this is not news anymore. People are getting used to these calamities. So the obvious question is -What are we doing to fight climate change? For starters, the EU established the 2050 climate neutrality targets and is aiming to reach them through ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies and actions, writes the team at the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise.

This page: Majjistral Nature and History Park, a nature reserve in Manikata

Main photography Irena Carpaccio. #ClimateOn Campaign seminar photography Ders Wedding Films.

Miriam Dalli, the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise, explains that “beyond statements of goodwill, tackling climate change requires action, and that is what our country is working hard on. Every measure that promotes renewable energy, including energy efficiency, sustainable products, the reuse of materials, the recycling and upcycling of products and green investments, contributes towards positive climate action. Beyond Malta, we also need to support developing countries that are worst hit by climate change. Hence why during COP 27 Malta announced that it will be doubling its contribution to the International Climate Fund.”

The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise launched the second edition of a nationwide public awareness campaign to continue promoting climate action amongst key industry stakeholders and the public. The #ClimateOn – Activate Change campaign aims to encourage therequiredculture change towards a more innovative, more sustainableway of life,while highlighting the benefits of a low-carbon society.

Last year, this campaign includedthe first-ever Climate Change National Conference to gain momentum on climate action amongst stakeholders. The campaign continued this year with the second editionof this conference,through seminar discussions focusing on sustainablemobility, sustainable finance and sustainable energy use – three contributing factors to climate change.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

The seminar on Mobility discussed the contribution of road transport as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Malta and theneed to change the way we move from one place to another in these small islands. The discussion at this seminar identified the lack of knowledge and risk of misinformation that may prejudice the sustainable mobility shift. More education and awarenessis needed toencourage modal shift, be it through public transport, carpooling or even biking for our daily commute. Every citizen needs to understand that a change in behaviour towards the modal shift is fundamental to reduce road transport emissions. During the discussions, stakeholders even mentioned the need for a more efficient public transport system. In addition, attention should also be given to other options of public transport as well as improving walkability and cyclingroutes.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY USE

Moving on to energy efficiency, particularly buildings. Energy use in buildings is another major contributor to Climate Change. Energy efficiency – or more so sustainable energy use- involves developing buildings that can adequately perform the operations they are intended for, bututilising less energy. Various stakeholders referred to Malta’s energy vision focusing on energy efficiency, direct electrification and

the proliferation ofclean sources of energy such as renewable energy systems. This would only be possible with the applicable standardsand regulations. Similar to the other seminars, stakeholders agreed upon the importance of education and awareness programmes. However, there alsoneeds to be abalancebetween enforcement and education. Adding on to this, stakeholders also highlightedthe importance of creating a centralised point of contact for the public as opposed to having multiple entities/regulators all managing similar sectors individually. They also discussed the element of support through schemes for the public and for businesses. Although such support is beneficial, ultimately it is up to each and every individual to make the little changes in their everyday life.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

The third sector under the spotlight finance. Without financial backing, all of the above suggestions would be futile. During the sustainable finance stakeholder dialogue seminar discussions noted that there are inactive funds that could be potentially invested towards green projects and sustainable companies. Additionally,there is also the need to stimulate demand for green products and services across sectors ranging from green construction to green loans,as this will instigate investment. This would in turn lead to the activation of Change that Malta truly needs in the fight against climate change.

Malta’s geophysical realities present innumerable challenges but this enables us to become a test bed for other small island States. This is why Malta launched the Island for Islands Initiative whereby the Government is assisting other small island developing states in identifying the challenges of decarbonisation and adaptation to climate change, and sharing with them best practices and experiences of completed and ongoing projects. Being at the forefrontof national and international climate action, Malta will continue to provide the required platform to all relevant stakeholders, empowering themto tackle challenges arising from climate change, whilst finding solutions which will ultimately activate changefor a more sustainable future!

Above: Hon. Minister Miriam Dalli’s speech during the closing seminar of the #ClimateOn Campaign.

EUROPEAN WEEK FOR WASTE REDUCTION

Putting Waste out of Fashion

Every month is full of days and weeks dedicated to raising awareness about different causes. These are usually topics that affect people in different ways, whether they are religious, social, scientific, or health-related. With much ado surrounding these days and weeks, there is one particular week that you should mark in your calendar - the EUROPEAN WEEK FOR WASTE REDUCTION which takes place in November, says the team at WasteServ Malta Ltd.

sheets of canvas that were used for our street billboards.

Celebrated all over Europe, this week is dedicated to sustainable resource and waste management. There is a different theme every year, with this year’s theme being Circular and Sustainable Textiles Preparations for this week usually start well in advance when different entities start thinking about what they could do to shed light on unsustainable consumption habits and show how we can improve our habits to reduce, reuse or recycle waste.

In order to mark this event, they would then share and promote their actions throughout this week, which this year happens to be from the 19th to the 27th of November. By sharing their actions, these entities create awareness on important issues, inspiring others to join in the effort to reduce our waste.

This year there are 61 participants with over 68 actions happening in Malta & Gozo, ranging from schools, businesses, NGOs, public entities, and citizens that have all come up with many interesting ideas such as school uniform swaps, popup thrift stores, and rag rug making.

The best actions are chosen during the Malta Waste Reduction Awards, and the winners have the opportunity to represent Malta in the European Waste Reduction Awards.

At WasteServ, we also wanted to do our part. We noticed that, despite our best efforts, our educational campaigns were also generating waste. Following our most recent campaign, ‘Separate right, make our future bright’, we ended up with large

Given that these are difficult to reuse for other campaigns, we wanted to come up with an alternative way of using this perfectly good material. That is when we thought of creating zipped pockets out of this sturdy material. These pockets can then be reused in many ways - as a pencil case, a make-up bag, or a medicine pocket. To make this idea a reality, we turned to Correctional Service Agency Sewing Team. Owing to their excellent sewing skills, these sheets of canvas have today been

Perhaps when we set our eyes on a new dress or a cosy bed throw, few of us think about what happens to that item after it goes out of fashion, or when it is time for a bedroom revamp. Most of the time these types of materials end up in landfill, unless we try to do the right thing and find other ways to extend the lifetime of these materials to the benefit of the environment.

Our final appeal to you is to become more conscious of the waste you are generating and find ways to reduce, reuse or recycle it. If you missed it this year, make sure you join us next year with your action, so that you too can spread the word about sustainable consumption and circular economy in your community.

WasteServ Malta Ltd. is the national coordinator for the European Week for Waste Reduction. For more information about this initiative, you can visit wsm.com.mt/ewwr.

THE BRONZE STATUES OF SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI

Coming to Light

This November over 20 bronze statues in perfect condition emerged from the hot mud in the Etruscan-Roman sanctuary connected to the ancient sacred thermo-mineral springs in San Casciano dei Bagni, in the province of Siena. The bronzes depict the various deities venerated in the sacred place. The exceptional state of conservation inside the hot spring water also preserved the inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin that were engraved before their creation. The inscriptions contain the names of powerful Etruscan families from the territory of internal Etruria, from the Velimna of Perugia to the Marcni known in the Sienese countryside. The bronzes date back to the second century BC. and the 1st century AD, a historical period of important and turbulent transformation in ancient Tuscany. In this era of great conflict between Rome and the Etruscan cities, in a phase in which the expansion of Rome also meant cultural osmosis, noble Etruscan families in the sanctuary of Bagno Grande dedicated these statues to the sacred water - an absolutely unique multicultural and multilingual context of peace, surrounded by political instability and war.

This page: New extraordinary bronze statues discovered at the sanctuary of San Casciano dei Bagni, 8 November 2022. Photography courtesy Italian Ministry of Culture.