Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/598356
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2015 40 THE European Cultural Days 2015 programme, which will be per- formed over a number of weeks, was launched on 3 November in an opening concert also featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Malta's cultural scene was pro- pelled into the international spot- light as it launched its programme for this year's European Cultural Days initiative, jointly organised by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Central Bank of Malta in Frankfurt. The audience was entertained at the opening concert, which starred Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and the Malta Philarmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Brian Schembri, at the famous Al- te Oper Theatre in the heart of the city. It marked the start of a pro- gramme of prestigious events that will run between now and Febru- ary 2016. Hosted annually by the ECB, the European Cultural Days initiative highlights the rich and varied ar- ray of cultures by focusing on a different EU country's cultural scene every year. Malta was cho- sen for 2015, and follows on from Bulgaria in 2014, Latvia in 2013 and France in 2012. The ECB has worked in conjunc- tion with the relevant country's national central bank. "The coming months will be an exciting time for us as we pro- mote Malta as a centre for the arts in the Mediterranean," says Prof. Josef Bonnici, the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta. "In line with the motto of this year's European Cultural Days – Vibrant Malta – we are looking forward to presenting a very vibrant calendar of events in Frankfurt over the next few weeks and months. It is a programme that also reflects the cultural impetus provided by Val- letta's selection as the European Capital of Culture for 2018." The calendar will include a vari- ety of events showcasing Maltese talent to a European audience. There will be a number of musi- cal performances, including ones by sopranos Lydia Caruana, Claire Ghigo and Gillian Zammit, vio- linist Carmine Lauri, sound artist and performer Renzo Spiteri, con- certs by the Cosmos Wind Ensem- ble, the Big Band Brothers and the Dominic Galea Jazztet, and a party hosted by top DJ Miss Roberta. Beyond this, the programme also includes highlights from other artistic media, including national contemporary dance company ŻfinMalta, exhibitions from pho- tographer Daniel Cilia and stone sculptor Joe Xuereb, a play direct- ed by Albert Marshall, and talks by historians Professor Anthony Bo- nanno, Professor Keith Sciberras and Professor Denis de Lucca. Now that the programme has been launched in earnest, Pro- fessor Bonnici said that he hopes each of the artistic elements fea- tured will enable the citizens of Frankfurt and their myriad in- ternational visitors to learn more about what our islands have to offer, and perhaps even visit us in the near future. "We may be the smallest country in the Un- ion but we should be proud of the endless cultural treasures that we have to showcase, and we should do everything we can to promote these treasures to a global audi- ence. This is exactly what will be achieved by this year's European Cultural Days," concludes Profes- sor Bonnici. This Week Joseph Calleja launched European Central Bank's European Cultural Days Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja performs in Frankfurt with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra to launch the European Cultural Days 2015 event Joseph Calleja and conductor Brian Schembri after the concert in Frankfurt 'Soul searching' American musician to perform in Valletta Acclaimed American singer-songwriter Josh T. Pearson will perform at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Valletta on November 22 ON Sunday 22 November, Hair- yamp Promotions will bring to an end an industrious year in style when American singer-songwriter Josh T. Pearson will perform in the intimate and unique setting of the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Valletta. Pearson's stunning 2011 mas- terwork 'Last Of The Country Gentlemen' was ranked as one of Uncut Magazines 50 Greatest Sing- er-Songwriter Albums of all Time and made almost every notable end- of-year list. He is renowned for play- ing unorthodox and atypical venues, and the 16th century church should create the perfect ambience for such a concert. Originally from Texas, Josh T. Pearson formed the short-lived phenomenon that was Lift to Expe- rience. They released one sprawling masterpiece; 2001's The Texas-Je- rusalem Crossroads, before splitting up soon after. They were so revered by the BBC's John Peel, that he had them record three sessions in five months; sessions which were later included in the Best 125 Peel Ses- sions of all time. Josh T. Pearson describes the years that followed Lift to Experience's dissolution as a period of "soul- searching,'' and it would take some ten years until he finally released his first solo album Last of the Country Gentleman. Josh T. Pearson's debut solo album is a collection of seven songs drawn from the lessons of what he describes as "a rough year"; songs that are personal, powerful, painful; songs that move with their honesty, that offer hope from the trials he's suffered and survived. The critical acclaim surround- ing the album's release was quite astonishing. Clash Music wrote, "Pearson's mournful growl, and the brutal honesty in raking over his personal failings, makes for a majestic, in-the-dead-of-the-night confessional." The Line of Best Fit said it was "one of the greatest and most compelling albums to emerge this decade so far". Evening Stand- ard described Last of the Country Gentleman as "a melancholic mas- terpiece" and the BBC said "It's a raw and white-knuckled collection, one which captures the phenom- enal emotions of the man's solo live sets." Last of the Country Gentlemen was named Rough Trade's Album of the Year 2011 and nominated in two categories, Best Album and Breakthrough Act at the 2011 MO- JO Awards. Uncut placed the album at number 5, while Mojo ranked it number 7, Rolling Stone number 33 and Q number 42 in their Top 50 Albums of 2011. Tickets for the concert at the Church of St Mary Magdalene (op- posite the passport office in Mer- chants Street) are available online from www.ticketline.com.mt. Due to the limited space, only 150 tickets are being made available. Robert Farrugia Flores from Plato's Dream Machine will open proceed- ings with a solo acoustic set. Singer-songwriter Josh T. Pearson