Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543288
Nature Notebook Join Friends of the Earth Malta to welcome the new gardening season with two events at the premises of Friends of the Earth Malta: Com- munity Gardening and a Clothing Swap & Thrift Party FoEM will reopen the garden on Sunday, 22 February. Expect the usu- al: getting your hands dirty and building community. But that's not all! If gardening isn't your thing, you can still join for the clothing thrift and swap party. Bring along any clothes you haven't worn in a while and swap them for an equal weight of new clothes. Even if you don't have anything to swap, come along anyway! There will also be a kilo thrift store open, where you can find your next favourite outfit at a low price. As usual, you are encouraged to bring vegan/vegetarian snacks to share! Sunday 22nd February 2:00-7:00 PM Friends of the Earth Malta, Floriana Green idea of the week 1005 Don't miss this Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Voices in Harmony Date: 17 February Location: Our Lady Of Victories Chapel, South Street, Valletta, Malta Set within this intimate and historic space, the concert promises a midday escape into the world of song, where voice and piano come together in a richly expressive programme. This week's recital showcases emerging sopranos Lisa Baldacchino and Bettina Zammit alongside tenor Tom Armitage, joined by the excellent pianist Elaine Mercieca. Entrance to the concert is at a suggested donation of 13 euros. One can obtain the tickets prior to the concert from the venue itself or by email: baroccobookings@gmail.com/ baroccomalta@gmail.com or phone 79680952. Mozart's Requiem: Chamber Choir and Four-hands Piano Date: 21 February Location: MICAS, Valletta, Malta Mozart's Requiem is one of the most powerful and enduring works in the choral repertoire, left unfinished at the composer's death in 1791. KorMalta will perform Czerny's intimate transcription for piano four hands in chamber formation, where this final masterpiece's clarity and emotional depth come into close focus. TENNIJA - Walter Micallef Date: 20, 21 February Location: Malta Society of Arts, Valletta, Malta Tennija — a Maltese word symbolising continuity, renewal, and new life — is a powerful musical tribute celebrating the legacy of legendary singer-songwriter Walter Micallef and the future of Maltese song. This special concert series brings generations together on one stage. Walter Micallef's iconic melodies and poetic lyrics, which have shaped the Maltese music landscape for decades, are re-imagined by a new wave of Maltese-language artists. These fresh interpretations honour the soul of the originals while offering bold, contemporary perspectives. Adding to the magic, Walter Micallef himself will perform a selection of rare and lesser-known works, alongside previously unreleased songs, offering audiences a unique glimpse into both his past and his ongoing creative journey. Tennija is more than a concert — it is a heartfelt celebration of heritage, reinvention, and artistic continuity. Rythms of Vision Date: 22 February Location: Malta Society of Arts, Valletta, Malta This programme showcases 32 years of chamber music by composer Zahra, tracing the evolution of a bold and unmistakable musical voice. At its core are three compelling piano and clarinet duos: Mouse in the Machine (1992), Boiling Clouds (2018), and Catch My Breath (2023). The earliest work draws inspiration from Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, while the later compositions reveal Zahra's distinctive contemporary style — marked by rhythmic clusters, pulsating grooves, and raw, aggressive textures. The programme also features a series of interdisciplinary works for piano and video, reflecting Zahra's long-standing exploration of visual narrative in music. Since 2007, he has developed an aesthetic that fuses live performance with videography, creating immersive sound- and-image experiences where the video's sound design becomes an integral part of the music. Code Breaking Date: 22 February Location: Fort St Elmo, Saint Elmo Bridge, Valletta, Malta Code Breaking is a fun, interactive activity for children aged 7–11. Time- travel into the thick of the Second World War and uncover the secrets of military communication and cryptology. From morse code to early code-breaking techniques, participants will learn how vital messages crossed battlefields and seas without falling into enemy hands – before working in teams to crack their own secret codes. Successful codebreakers will be rewarded with a small gift in recognition of their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Tickets are available online HERE and from any Heritage Malta museum or site. Eco Festival Date: 6 March Location: Upper Barrakka Gardens, Triq Sant' Orsla, Valletta, Malta The Eco Festival is a joyful celebration of sustainability, featuring a curated market of handmade, eco-friendly products from local artisans. Ideal for tourists, it offers one-of-a-kind souvenirs that are plastic- free, organic, and crafted with love. 1008. Dunnock SOME birds are large and spectacular, like the great cormorant we featured here a few weeks ago. Others are small, drab, secre- tive and hard to spot, let alone identify. British birdwatchers often refer to these birds as LBJs (little brown jobs) and one customer that eminently fits this description is the dunnock, a study in greys and browns. It looks rather like a sparrow – its other name is hedge sparrow in fact – but its beak is thin and clearly made for snap- ping up small insects, unlike the sparrow's chunky seed-crunching mandibles. Unlike sparrows too, the dunnock (M. żiemel) is largely a loner and a skulker, all in all not an easy bird to find. Dunnocks are birds of open woodlands and large gardens, but when they feel safe they often flutter to the ground to forage for insects and other juicy titbits. The dunnock is a fairly common autumn migrant, and some birds stay the winter too, livening up public gardens with their trilling call. 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 FEBRUARY 2026 ALMANAC Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti Register here: https://foemalta.org/event/202602-community-garden/ Voices in Harmony