Notte Bianca 2012 events

Notte Bianca is once again set to light up the cityscape of Valletta on Saturday the 29th of September with a spectacular nocturnal celebration of cultural and artistic events. The capital’s streets and cultural venues will play host to a wonderful assortment of entertainment.

State palaces and museums will open their doors to delight patrons with visual art exhibitions and theatre performances, while the open-air streets and piazzas will showcase some of the finest local and international performers, musicians and dancers. Cafes and restaurants will be open until late with further food stalls and kiosks occupying the streets. All of Valletta, from City Gate to Fort St Elmo, will come alive on Notte Bianca, guaranteeing a memorable night that truly holds something for everyone.

Music

No cultural celebration would be complete without Music and that is why Notte Bianca has a string of top class musicians, bands, and singers lined up to keep the night alive. From pop to rock, jazz to world, classical to folk, whatever your musical taste there will be a performance for you. The Upper Barrakka Gardens and Independence Square will see some of Malta’s brightest bands, including nosnow/noalps, The Crowns and Cruz, take to the stage to get the crowd going. Local lauded multi-percussionist Renzo Spiteri will delight patrons at the beautiful courtyard of the Ministry of Finance with a mesmerising percussive showcase that explores new musical and rhythmic territories.

At the Manoel Theatre highly sought-after Dutch pianist Mike del Ferro will be giving no less than three musical sets during the night. He will be performing a versatile programme of his own compositions inspired by operatic themes, jazz standards and other favourites. The Manoel will also give classical music enthusiasts a special treat with Mozart vs. Salieri; an opera double-bill that recreates musical history’s most notorious showdown.

Furthermore choirs, marching bands, and folk ensembles will be performing all around the city throughout the night.

Theatre

Several Theatre performances will be taking place on the many performance stages around the city. QED, a critically acclaimed play about a day in the life of the eccentric Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman will be taking place at the St James Cavalier as part of the Science in the City events. This scientist wrote several novels, took part in the Manhattan project, and died of cancer in 1988, aged sixty-nine.

The Manoel Theatre will be presenting director Josette Ciappara’s tribute drama performance Il-Jien u lil hinn Minnu; a dramatisation of the poem of the same by the much-loved Maltese poet, writer and ecclesiastical figure Dun Karm Psaila. Also, the much-loved Maleth Theatre Company will be debuting their play Do You See Yourself in This? at the MITP in St Christopher Street.

Dance

Get ready to Dance the night away with the many dancers and troupes taking to the streets.

The Malta Argentine Tango Association will be demonstrating steps from flamenco, ballroom, and Latin dance in Strait Street. St John’s Square will get the modern treatment thanks to the young and talented Urban Echo Troupe’s hip-hop and breakdance skills.

Dance enthusiasts should also relish a unique opportunity to observe internationally acclaimed dancer/choreographer Mavin Khoo and his dance company rehearsing at the MITP for their upcoming Akasha show.

On every street you turn there will be traditional Maltese dancing, Zumba, fire dancing and much much more.

Guided Tours

A number of fascinatingly themed Guided Tours will be taking place during Notte Bianca, which will uncover the secrets, tales and history that lie behind Valletta’s elegant exterior. Knowledgeable guides will lead visitors around the city streets to reveal curious facts and details, such as the surprising amount of architectural expressions that give evidence to a cult of St. Paul; the many animal symbolisms hidden on the stones and marble throughout Valletta; the incidents, personages and memories that fashioned Valletta’s unique history during the calamitous Second World War; and the various public gardens and monuments that celebrate grand historical events and personalities.

Exhibitions & Other

Many of Valletta’s museums, churches, galleries and places of interest will be hosting a wide array of Exhibitions, which will all be open to the public. These include an extensive selection of art, photo and sculpture exhibits, along with Church and band club treasures.

During Notte Bianca, Science in the City will be presenting a host of weird and wonderful events including a Sci-Bar on Merchant’s Street, a science and art exhibition called Why? at St James Cavalier, a science inspired doughnut-shaped bus called Joyride at St George’s Square, as well as many other insightful science related events at the Auberge d’Italie, Palazzo Parisio, and Strait Street. 
The Malta Artisan Fair – taking place in front of the Stock Exchange next to Upper Barrakka Gardens – will offer a magical market place experience with beautiful local innovative arts and crafts products, and fresh artisan foods and produce sold directly from the artist and producer.

M/S Hulda, the 106-year old 2-mast sailing boat where Swedish-Turkish artist Ilhan Koman worked and lived, will dock at Ta’ Liesse and present the Hulda Festival; an innovative platform that’s aims to build bridges between sciences, arts and daily life. Notte Bianca patrons are invited to come aboard and let their imaginations sail the seas of multi-cultural art pieces and ideas.

Please visit www.nottebiancamalta.com for more information.

Please find Notte Bianca programme here

Notte Bianca is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and is supported by GO and MSV life. For more information contact Sarah-Lee Zammit at sarah-lee.zammit@maltaculture.com