Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1013924
| SUNDAY • 12 AUGUST 2018 maltatoday 11 FESTIVALS Malta, together with the Marsascala Local Council, the Ministry for Justice and Local Government, and the National Literacy Agency, is ex- tending the Summer Carnival with its 'Hands-On Summer Carnival Experience'. The aim behind this lively activity is for the public, especially children, to learn more about the artistic work behind carnival. This ex- perience will take place along the Marsascala promenade on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 Au- gust from 7:30pm. There will be a number of specially set-up stands where demonstrations will be given about papier-mâché, clay mod- elling, mask painting and bal- loon figures, along with a variety of activities specially aimed at children. The public will be en- couraged to take part and after each demonstration, to try their hand at one of the carnival crafts. In addition, thanks to the Na- tional Literacy Agency, there will be stories recited at Jacob's Brew café. These stories, which will be animated and brought to life through diverse means, will be held on Sunday 12 August for children aged between four and seven, and on Monday 13 August for children aged up to three years. Due to limited space, it is rec- ommended that a space be re- served by calling 2598 2990 or emailing aqra.storja@ilearn.edu. mt. Summer Carnival defilés will be held on Friday 17 August and Saturday 18 August in Buġibba and Sunday 19 August in Marsascala. This year, to- gether with the Gozo Ministry, there will also be celebrations in Mġarr, Gozo on Saturday 1 September. CULTURE ENVIRONMENT We have very few wild mammals in Malta, and most of them were brought over by people from overseas. One that probably arrived by boat from North Africa is the Algerian hedgehog (M. qanfud). Nobody knows how long ago this happened but it's pretty certain it was a long time ago because the hedgehog is to- day widespread in Malta as well as in Gozo. Secretive in habit and largely nocturnal, it goes about its business, foraging for snails, slugs and other small animals in fields, gardens and roadsides, rolling into a ball of spines in the face of danger. Sadly, this de- fence reaction proves invariably fatal when the danger is an on- coming car, as evidenced by the hundreds of sad roadkills that litter our country roads. So please, when out driving in the dark, especially out in the countryside, spare a thought for our spiky friend, and slow down. The bambinella is a Maltese cultivar of the Pyrus commu- nis. This bite-size pear, with its reddish hue, is a delightful ad- dition to the selection of fruit harvested locally in the months of July and August. These little ones were so popular that they were being exported to the UK in 2009 where they were be- ing sold at Marks & Spencer in London. Luckily there are still plenty of Bambinella on the local markets for us to enjoy locally. Try out the recipe on our website! 621. ALGERIAN HEDGEHOG Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 524: : Find out more and try our caramelised bambinella salad : www.foemalta.org/fab/bambinella/ Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon Summer Carnival extended with hands-on activities What's in season - August KUNSILL LOKALI SAN PAWL KUNSILL LOKALI MARSASCALA 2018 17 th & 18 th BUĠIBBA 19 th MARSASKALA AUGUST 7pm onwards Lorem ipsum AĦNA Refuġjati: the brand new and original opera, staged and scripted entirely in Maltese, is about to bring a feast of sound and visuals to The Granaries in Floriana on the 31st August and 2nd September. Grab your tickets now! The production, which is part of the Vallet- ta 2018 Cultural Programme, will be tackling contemporary issues through a winning com- bination of dynamic music and a timeless story. The themes – war, immigration, and the often overlooked narrative of refugees in crisis – are topical and challenging. But the story's core, as it follows the trials of a family torn apart by war, remains raw and heartfelt. These themes will all be presented through the classic, time- less medium of opera, with the participation of a number of highly-acclaimed local and inter- national artists. The stellar line-up includes soprano Miriam Gauci, counter-tenor José Hernàndez Pastor, tenor Joseph Zammit and mezzo-sopranos Clare Ghigo and Federica Falzon in the leading roles. Gauci and Pastor will be in the roles of parents Shari and Eleja, while Zammit, Ghigo and Falzon will play Hamid, Saja and Darit, the couple's three children. The cast also includes tenor Nico Darmanin in the role of Karl, a young volunteer; sopra- nos Ruth Sammut Casingena and Nadia Vella, in the roles of Fatima and Diva, bass-baritone Louis Andrew Cassar in the role of Mirani, an activist, and baritone Joseph Lia in the role of an officer. Composed by Mario Sammut and Richard Merill Brown, this will not be your average op- era inside a theatre with a live orchestra, but a truly dynamic work. With the sounds of 184 instrumentalists virtually created by Mario Sammut inside his studio, the music of this op- era is completely engineered thanks to the help of servers and advanced musical equipment, making Aħna Refuġjati a 'next-generation op- era' experience. Aħna Refuġjati recounts the story of Eleja, his wife Shari, and their three children aged 20, 18 and 10, who flee from their war-torn village in Syria after witnessing atrocities during the civil war, in hopes of a better life in Europe. The op- era follows the family's struggles with crossing borders, the lack of basic human rights, racism, separation and loss, on a journey motivated by hope. Although the opera is scripted entirely in Maltese, surtitles will be shown in both English and Maltese, therefore allowing all audiences to follow along. The opera is being produced under the musical direction of Richard Merrill Brown and direction of Mario Philip Azzopar- di, with stage design by Antoine Farrugia. Follow the journey of a family that flees an unsafe homeland in search of a better life. Aħna Refuġjati will be held on the 31st of Au- gust and on the 2nd of September at 21.00, at the Granaries in Floriana. To book your tickets visit tickets.valletta2018.org . Aħna Refuġjati is being organised by the Val- letta 2018 Foundation in collaboration with the Floriana Local Council, the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, the Armed Forces of Malta, Transport Malta and Mad About Video. It is part of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme. Ahna Refugjati: 'a next generation opera in Maltese'