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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 JULY 2014 36 THIS WEEK THE Manoel Theatre is pleased to announce the full programme of the forthcoming third edition of the Valletta International Ba- roque Festival 2015, for which booking is now open. The suc- cess of the Baroque Festival on the international cultural stage is evidenced by the growing interest from Tour Operators who are bringing in more over- seas visitors specifically for this event. It is, therefore, advisable to book early for 2015 Festival to avoid disappointment. For the full Festival programme and to book tickets go to: www.val- lettabaroquefestival.com.mt or www.teatrumanoel.com.mt. With 21 events over 15 days in 7 venues the 2015 version builds on the success of the first two. The 2015 Festival is dedicated to the memory of Maltese com- poser Geronimo Abos as 2015 is the tercentennial anniversary of his birth. "Abos was one of Malta's greatest and most versa- tile composers," explained Ken- neth Zammit Tabona, Artistic Director of the Festival, "and we am delighted to announce that his music is not only being per- formed by local musicians but by foreign ensembles". His music will be performed by Die Kölner Akademie, Pas- sacaglia Ensemble (which fea- tures some of the UK's leading period instrument players) and the Valletta International Ba- roque Ensemble. As a preview to the Festival, the ensemble or VIBE as it is popularly known will be pre- senting a concert of music by Maltese composer Michel'ange Vella, Henry Purcell, Antonio Vivaldi and George Frederick Handel on July 8 at 20:00 at All Souls Church, Merchant Street, Valletta. This concert will be the culmination of three days of masterclasses. Entrance to this concert is free. Ray Attard, CEO of the Manoel Theatre (the Festival producers) stated, "With growing success comes increased expectations and, inevitably, more pressure on resources. We are therefore hugely indebted to, first of all, the small behind-the-scenes team that makes this event pos- sible and to our supporters; the Government of Malta as the major stakeholder as well as the growing list of sponsors includ- ing the Malta Tourism Author- ity, Tipico, Phoenicia and Ex- celsior Hotels and the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation. Without their help this event would not be the international success this Festival is turning out to be." The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment returns to per- form the glorious Bach Passion according to St John in St John's Co-Cathedral which will be off- set by Michelangelo Falvetti's magnificent 'Il Diluvio Univer- sale', performed by the Cappella Mediterranea under the baton of Leonardo Garcia Alarcon at St Publius Church in Floriana, a new addition to the list of ven- ues for 2015. The Malta Philharmonic Or- chestra, conducted by Peter Stark, will present an innova- tive programme of 20th century works inspired by the baroque which includes a flute concerto by Lukas Foss performed by the Orchestra's own flautist Rebec- ca Hall. The Festival programme also includes music ranging from baroque piano transcriptions of music by Bach, Handel and Gluck performed by Dmytro Sukhovienko to sacred and profane baroque music from the Americas performed by Ensemble Villancico and Han- del concert arias presented by Robert King conducting The King's Consort and counterten- or Iestyn Davies. Bach features strongly in this Festival; his Cello suites are performed by the world-renowned Sigiswald Kuijken who will play on that rare instrument a violoncello da spalla and his Goldberg Vari- ations by local pianist Joanne Camilleri. The European Union Baroque Ensemble will perform music by Handel and his Lon- don friends and the Festival's resident ensemble, the Valletta International Baroque Ensem- ble (VIBE) will perform at two concerts. The Festival also in- cludes events specifically for children and culminates with the Baroque Festival Ball which will be held in spectacular Sacra Infermeria Hall at the Mediter- ranean Conference Centre. For further information please consult the festival website www. vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt The Reed Warbler is a tiny but amazing bird. It doesn't just migrate across the Mediterranean sea and spend the winter in Norther Africa. No way, this bird also crosses the entire Sahara desert. Yup, and ies right back across in spring. A few pairs don't y all the way to mainland Europe, though, but stop and nest on our crowded little rock. There's very little suitable habitat for Reed Warblers as these birds like marshy places with lots of reeds – the kind of reedbed, incidentally, that doesn't get regularly burned down by any odd idler with a lighter. Such habitat is rare in this country and in fact almost all our breeding Reed Warblers (M: Bufula tal-Qasab) nest at Is-Simar nature reserve. BirdLife manages and protects this site in a way that aords these and other shy species a spot where to raise a family. Malta desperately needs more protected sites but it seems nature reserves are far less popular than megaprojects that are gulping down the countryside like there's no tomorrow. We never learn. Shame on us. Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti 412. REED WARBLER Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65). GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 314: LEMON, JUST THE TONIC FOR A CLEAN MICROWAVE - Bits of food stuck in your microwave? Time for a gin and tonic. And while you're slicing the lemon, add a couple of slices to a small bowl of water. Put it in the microwave, switch on and sip your G&T. The condensation will gently loosen the dried food before you finish your drink. Then simply wipe clean and enjoy that fresh smell. A leaked European Union document exposes the dangerous direction the trade deal between the U.S. and the EU is taking when it comes to raw material and energy. The leaked position paper reveals that the proposed trade deal - the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP - could change U.S. energy policy to allow for increased exports of oil and gas and keep the EU dependent on high levels of fossil fuel imports. The document is attracting ire from environmental groups in the U.S. and in Europe which say the proposal would be a disaster for the climate. This leaked proposal further confirms concerns that, while the public is being kept in the dark, the EU-US trade deal is being used to trade away regulations that protect us from dangerous climate change. Europe needs to end its high import dependency and make an urgent transition to clean, renewable energy and greater energy efficiency. The document states that the EU is seeking "a legally binding commitment" that would "transform" the current U.S. process for examining the impacts of natural gas and crude oil exports into a process whereby "licenses for exports to the EU are granted automatically and expeditiously". Environmental groups are also concerned that the EU is prioritizing access to U.S. fossil fuels instead of maximizing the potential of renewables and efficiency, despite having set targets to reduce climate emissions by 2020. Text by Martin Galea De Giovanni Leaked trade document exposes dangerous EU energy proposal Baroque Festival 2015 programme announced