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IV This Week maltatoday, Sunday, 28 december 2014 MUSIC & THEATRE DECEMBER 30 Spectacular Ballet Gala Night of international ballet talent at the Hilton Malta, Portomaso, St Julian's at 20:00. The second edition of the Ballet Gala will be featuring international soloists like Prima Ballerina Bianca Viktoria Fota from the Bucharest National Opera and Ballet along with her ballet partner Ovidiu Matei Iancu. Other artists including ballet stars Guido Sarno from Teatro La Scala Milano, Sophie Benoit from The Royal Swedish Ballet and Martin Dvorak with Irene Bauer from Vienna State Opera, and Prima Ballerina Ekaterina Petina with Adam Zvonar from Bayerische Staatsoper. Artists will be performing famous pieces, amongst which one can expect the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beaut y, Romeo and Juliet, and Don Quixote. Bookings: ticketline.com.mt. DECEMBER 30 The Voca Choir Christmas Concert The Żejtun Local Council in collaboration with the Żejtun Parish Church presents the annual Christmas Concert at 19:30. This year the Voca Choir is going to perform various Christmas Carols at the St Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church, in Republic Square, Żejtun. UNTIL JANUARY 4 Pinocchio: The Panto Annual FM Theatre Panto written by and starring Edward Mercieca as Dame Saltimbocca, at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta. Cast also includes Renato Dimech as Geppeto, David Chircop as Jimmy, Larrisa Bonacci as the Blue Fairy, Maxine Aquilina as Princess Esmeralda amongst others. Musical direction by Kris Spiteri, choreography by Jean-Marc Cafa, with Cathy Lawlor as vocal coach. Directed by Chris Gatt. Bookings: http:// booking.teatrumanoel.com.mt/ Event/3493/. UNTIL JANUARY 4 Merry Poppins: The MADC Panto Annual MADC Panto featuring Alan Montanaro at MFCC, Ta' Qali. Set on a Mediterranean island during colonial times, the show sees Merry Poppins (Montanaro), a nanny that is not your average nanny, being summoned to look after Governor Banks' bratt y children Mikey and Jane. Rest of the cast includes: Katherine Brown, John Montanaro, Joseph Zammit, Luke Saydon and Mandy Randon, among others. Music by Paul Abela, choreography by Alison White, and costumes by Ernest Camilleri Written by Malcolm Galea. Bookings: w w w.madc.com. mt. UNTIL JANUARY 3 Comedy Knights: 12 Months of Funny Satirical comedy sketch show by 'The Comedy Knights' will be performed at Teatru Salesjan, Sliema, at 20:00. Directed by Wesley Ellul. Cast includes Chris Dingli, Pia Zammit, Jo Caruana, Colin Fitz, Marc Cabourdin and Thomas Vassallo. Tickets start from €10 and include complimentary parking. Bookings: w w w.ticketline.com. mt. JANUARY 9, 10 The Twilight Sad Critically acclaimed Scottish rock band The Twilight Sad will be playing two gigs at St James Cavalier, Valletta at 20:30. They will be supported by Maltese singer-songwriter YEWS and The Clandestines. The band arrive as part of an extensive tour in promotion for their fourth album called 'Nobody wants to be here and Nobody wants to leave', which will be released on the 28th October. 'Nobody…' was recorded at Mogwai 's Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow and mixed by Pete Katis (producer of The National, Jonsi and Interpol) in the US. Tickets are at €16 and €20. Bookings: bookings@sjcav. org, 2122 3200. JANUARY 10-24 Valletta International Baroque Festival Second edition of the festival of Baroque music, featuring local and international musicians across various venues in Valletta. For more information and a full programme, log on to http:// w w w.vallettabaroquefestival.com. mt/. JANUARY 17 Celebrating Elvis – 80th birthday Tribute concert by local musicians celebrating Elvis Presley's 80th birthday at MFCC, Ta' Qali from 20:00. Music arranged by Paul Abela. Tickets are at €10, €15 and €20. Bookings: 21410371, info@mfcc.com.mt. JANUARY 30 Maltese Swingers – a concert of WHAT'S ON TODAY Post-Dramatic Stress Disorder Satirical comedy sketch show by Frolic at St James Cavalier, Valletta at 20:00. Featuring Marta Vella, Bettina Paris, Ema Marie Attard, Vikesh Godhwani, Sean Borg and Ryan Cutajar, with Luca Zerafa as resident pianist. Tickets are at €10, €12 and €15. Celebrating Elvis: 80th birthday The Twilight Sad Edward Lear in Malta