Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/922844
maltatoday SUNDAY 7 JANUARY 2018 This Week 43 THE Edinburgh Fringe is, without a doubt, the largest and most exciting Performing Arts festival in the world. The figures speak for themselves: at the 2017 Fringe, there were over 53,000 performances of 3,399 shows in more than 300 venues. No other festival even comes close. Being part of the Fringe not only gives you the chance to test yourself on the biggest stage of all, but with the top industry professionals from around the world looking out for talent, it's also an incredible platform that can lead to career- (and life-) changing opportunities. That is why performing at the fringe is the dream for anyone involved in the Performing Arts. Every artist wants a stint at the fringe in their portfolio and on their CV. But how do you go about getting there? Ants in Pants, better known for producing the annual adult panto, is organising a seminar in order to set you on your way to the most exciting experi- ence of your life. This seminar will provide all the practical information you need about the Edinburgh Fringe. What it is, how you can perform there, and how to make the most of the most exciting experience of your life. The tutors will be giving you invaluable tips on how to take your work to Edinburgh, an es- sential checklist of what needs to be done in order to get there, and tips on getting your show seen by the right people once you are there! The seminar will be addressed by Steve Hili and Malcolm Galea, two professional per- forming arts practitioners who have performed at the fringe numerous times. The seminar will be held at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, in col- laboration with The Founda- tion for Creativity, on January 13. It will include a Question & Answer session where they will answer all your Fringe ques- tions. Participation fee is €40, and space is limited. For more information call Steve Hili on 9944 9161 or write to ann@ideasalive.com.mt. Tickets can be obtained from www.kreattivita.org Getting your show to the Fringe The dangers of superficiality Valletta International Baroque Festival kicks off on Saturday Exhibition of paintings by Ryan Falzon at INIALA5 Pop-Up Gallery, Valletta Theatre and comedy practitioners Steve Hili and Malcolm Galea hold a seminar on polishing up your performance for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival THE exhibition Culture is Past Art is Future exists in parallel with the opening of Valletta2018 Capital of Culture. The body of work on show, by young painter Ryan Falzon, consists of paintings and a series of 18 oil pastel draw- ings, some being part of a series exhibited online between May- August 2017. The exhibition Culture is Past Art is Future aims to highlight the current approach towards culture being used as a tool of preserva- tion and conservation, rather than step towards an evolved re- alisations of current practices. Art is integrated in Culture, but it is also independent, its strength lies in subverting and revealing the underlying, unifying all forms of contemporary Art. The paint- ers, installation art, Internet Art, glitch makers, all should aim to present alternatives derived from Culture. We have enough of superficial- ity going on, Art cannot be su- perficial in order to survive. Art is independent from Culture be- cause Art is done by an individual or small collective on their own. Culture is a collective effort by people with a common interest – financial, religious, any common grounds which creates a cause. Most often it is not a culture of creating that is being pushed, but that of looking back and if possi- ble fossilizing outdated structures and traditions, "Selling them as new ideas by polishing them up to give them a cheap and tacky luster that reeks of nostalgia and newly printed banknotes". It is problematic having such vision pushed forward, it estab- lishes a dangerous ideology for fu- ture generations to dig in the past rather than shape the future with their Art. Culture is not presented as a stepping stone for present and future generations to look for- ward, but as an agent of preserva- tion, not of provocation. Culture is Past Art is Future will be on display from January 19 to 27 at INIALA5 Pop-Gallery, Old Treasury Street, Valletta THE sixth edition of the Valletta International Baroque Festival will run from January 13 to 27. These will be two weeks of music spread over 26 events in 14 differ- ent locations across Malta. This prestigious event is pro- duced and managed by Teatru Manoel, and is now a must in the local arts and culture scene. This year's Festival will feature a number of internationally ac- claimed stars from the Baroque music world. Mahan Esfahani, the harpsicord legend, will re- turn this year to delight us with his music together with La Fo- lia Barockorchester, while The Ghislieri choir and consort will be performing two concerts, one in St John's Co- Cathedral, and another at The Mdina Cathedral. This year's Festival will ven- ture outside our Capital to other impressive locations such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and The Aula Capitulare in Mdina, Verd- ala Palace, and The Malta Mari- time Museum in Vittoriosa. The Festival kicks off at Te- atru Manoel on January 13 with Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. Shunske Sato on the violin will share the limelight with Concer- to Koln, who will stage another performance on the second day of the festival, performing Bach and Italy. Other international guests include Concerto Ro- mano, Scholars and Gentlemen, Collegium Orpheus, Het Collec- tief and the Abchordis Ensemble. The Festival will feature music from the Archives of the Cathe- dral Museum, performed by the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble on January 21. This year, V IBE will a lso per- form in the Monteverdi Vespers at the Church of St Catherine in Żejtun, under the direction of Marco Mencoboni. Other loca l performers in- clude guitarist Simon Schem- bri, and Sandro Zera fa and friends, where Baroque will meet Jazz at the Ma lta Mari- time Museum. The Ma lta Philharmonic Or- chestra, conducted by Riccardo Bianchi, will perform music by Grieg, Tansman, Grav ina and Villa-Lobos. Messa Due Cori, composed by Ma ltese priest Benigno Zera fa, will be performed as appropriately f it at the Met- ropolitan Cathedra l in Mdina, where Zera fa ser ved as Maes- tro di Cappella bet ween 174 4 and 1786. On Januar y 14, the Baroque Treasure Hunt will be held at the Studio Theatre, and Baroque Jazz for Children will be held on Januar y 21. For more details and to book visit vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt, www.teatrumanoel.com.mt Ryan Falzon