Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540988
Nature Notebook Stand Up, Speak Up! Public Speaking Workshop Friends of the Earth Malta, in collaboration with Kunsill Nazzjonali taż- Żgħażagħ, is hosting a youth-focused Public Speaking Workshop de- signed to help participants build confidence and master the art of com- munication. Led by Pia Zammit, a Communication Coach, the session will guide par- ticipants to find their voice, deliver engaging presentations, and express themselves clearly in public. Drawing on her extensive experience as a teacher, teacher-trainer, and performer, Pia will share practical tech- niques to help young people enhance their communication and pres- entation skills. When: 28th October Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Where: Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ Join us for this empowering session and learn to Stand Up, Speak Up! Green idea of the week 812 Register here: https://foemalta.org/event/stand-up-speak-up- public-speaking-workshop/ Don't miss this Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Hocus Pocus - the pantoween Date: 2 November Location: St Aloysius College Theatre, Triq il-Kullegg, Birkirkara, Malta After 20 years, Hoi Polloi's legendary Pantoween is back – and so are the Sanderson Sisters! This Halloween, the witches return in a brand-new, laugh-out-loud, spook-tacular pantomime twist. Packed with magic, music, mischief, and mayhem, HOCUS POCUS: The Pantoween promises to be a fun-filled night out for the whole family. Packed with laughter, music, and spooky surprises, Hocus Pocus: The Pantoween is a spellbinding panto adventure that promises fun for the whole family! Mediterranean Letters Date: 3 November Location: Pjazza Teatru Rjal, The Green Room, Valletta, Malta Mediterranean Letters is a night where classical music merges with poetry and evokes the feel of the Mediterranean Sea – its culture, traditions, heritage, etc. All encompassed in music for violin and piano and words from different countries around the Mediterranean Sea or being inspired by this region. Classical Vocal Evening Date: 5 November Location: Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta This concert presents a moving journey through love, loss, and human emotion. From Brahms's and Bach's reflections on mortality to Schumann's tender Ich grolle nicht and Chopin's lyrical Nocturne No. 20, the program evokes deep feeling and beauty. Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Schubert add passion and grace, while Mozart and Verdi bring operatic drama. The evening concludes with Maltese composers Joseph Vella and Charles Camilleri, celebrating heartfelt expression and cultural heritage. A programme of profound emotion and timeless artistry. Pre-UK MPO Tour Concert Date: 6 November Location: Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta Ahead of their UK tour with Sergey Smbatyan at the helm, the MPO presents a programme featuring Mozart's timeless overture to The Magic Flute, and a riveting new work by Karl Fiorini. Pianist Freddy Kempf takes the stage as soloist in Rachmaninoff's beloved Piano Concerto No. 2. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 explores themes of longing and redemption with striking melodic beauty and emotional depth. Kuragg 2025 - A Concert inspired by Real-Life Stories Date: 7-9 November Location: Teatru Salesjan, Triq Guze' Howard, Sliema, Malta Get ready for a special night of music with Kuragg – a concert that shines a light on the uplifting side of life's toughest challenges. Organised by The Malta Community Chest Fund, Kuragg brings audiences on a journey of resilience, sharing the real stories of patients who, despite facing adversity, have found joy, strength, and hope along the way. Each song performed during the show has been personally selected by the patients themselves – whether dedicated to someone special, inspired by a moment in life, or a reminder of courage in difficult times. It's a musical tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the healing power of music. At the heart of the show are the Big Band Brothers, led by Daniel Cauchi as Music Director, delivering energy, soul, and a rich soundscape that binds the show together. The War of the Worlds Date: 23 November Location: Teatru Aurora, Triq ir- Repubblika, Victoria, Gozo Teatru tal-Opra Aurora is pleased to host, for yet another year, the Gozo Youth Orchestra, who, in collaboration with 7SPP is presenting the Malta Premiere of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation on Saturday 22nd November 2025 at 7.30p.m. and an additional show on Sunday 23rd November 2025 at 6.30p.m. The Gozo Youth Orchestra will be under the direction of its founder/musical director Mro Joseph Grech with the participation of Clara Sciberras, Neville Refalo, Klinsmann Coleiro, Chris Grech and Francesco Nicodeme. Artistic Direction is entrusted to Dorothy Bezzina. This iconic progressive rock musical will see the participation of some of the islands' foremost talent. Billed as the most challenging production for the organisers, the production will be further augmented with electronic and acoustic music, video presentation by Liam Neeson, lighting effects and amazing special effects. No effort is being spared to ensure that it will indeed be a night to remember. The Gozo Youth Orchestra, together with 7 Star Pyramid Productions and Festivals Malta, will present the Malta premiere of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds –The New Generation at Teatru tal-Opra Aurora 994. Eurasian spoonbill BEAKS are a bird's best friend. Having swapped hands and fingers for wings, birds long ago switched to beaks as their main picking tool, not least food. So it's no surprise that beaks come in all shapes and sizes. Among the weirdest that come our way is that of the Eurasian spoonbill (M. paletta). It's long with a flattened, round- ed end like a spatula - hence their names. Watching this big white bird wading in the shallow waters and expertly snapping up fish and crustaceans amply demonstrates what a great tool that beak is. The spoonbill is a very scarce migrant in Malta – no wonder the group (pictured above) that graced the shallow pans at Salina nature re- serve over the past week have been a magnet for nature lovers. Do go visit, maybe they're still there. Entrance is free. 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 NOVEMBER 2025 ALMANAC Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti (photo)