Malta Information
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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Home Country: malta
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 Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:06 am Post subject: NIGHTLIFE IN MALTA |
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NIGHTLIFE IN MALTA
From the hothouse of clubs to cool, romantic courtyards, Malta at night has moods for all.
The Islands have a vibrant calendar of theatre and concerts, classical and modern. Many are held outdoors or in historic venues. There are annual cultural events such as the three-month summer Maltafest. Another regular is the international Jazz Festival in July. Now over ten years old, it’s seen legends and newcomers perform in a spectacular venue by floodlit Grand Harbour.
Malta is fast becoming the place for clubbing. Top international DJs appear for guest weekends throughout the year. Paceville and St Julian's are the centre of the scene. For excitement of a different kind, try your luck at the casino.
As a country providing locations for some Oscar-winning films, Malta is naturally a film-loving society. The Islands have several state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas always with the latest releases.
Dining al fresco is one of life’s simple pleasures. Choose from romantic palazzos to bustling harbour restaurants and discover the range of Maltese cuisine, wine and beer.
For a lively night out, nothing beats a summer festa. Saints, fireworks, food and fun are all part of this cultural phenomenon; one not to be missed.
Club & Scene
The Islands have launched onto the club scene big time in the past few years. Internationally-renowned DJs are frequent guests here, and not just in summertime. The main nightlife action is in Paceville, on the coast near St Julian’s.
The club scene is all-week affair. There is a variety of venues, from large clubs to quieter bars with no entrance fee but where some excellent house DJs entertain.
Classical & Jazz
If you’re a music buff or just simply wish to have a special, musical night out, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The Islands not only host several major musical festivals, but they also offer weekly musical events.
There are organ recitals in baroque churches and regular orchestral and soloist concerts in some stunning historic venues like the Manoel Theatre and St James Cavalier.
Valletta is the venue for several annual festivals: the Valletta Baroque Festival; the summer Arts Festival; and the Opera Festival.
Highlights of the year include the established Malta Jazz Festival held in a wonderful location below the bastions of Valletta, overlooking a floodlit Grand Harbour. In the past decade, the festival has attracted jazz legends and the best of aspiring newcomers. There is often a series of jazz nights at the Cavalier, and in several café-bars.
Another main event is the Choir Festival in November. This attracts international and local choirs in informal and spirited competition.
Folk & Band Music
Band music is one of the most popular traditions on the Islands. Every town and village has at least one, usually two, band clubs. Band music is taken seriously here, and is the mainstay of many open-air events. The highlight of the year for band music is the parish festa. If this is your style of music, you’ll find a variety of band marches and performances throughout the year in various locations.
If someone mentions Ghana (pronounced ‘arna’), you are in for an unusual and fascinating musical form. Ghana is Maltese folk music at its most individual and traditional. In bygone years, the lyrics were created afresh each time. Ghana originated in village bars and is always sung by men, accompanied by guitar.
The lyrics tell stories of village life, with its wonderful personalities, and of events in local history. Today, you might chance across an impromptu Ghana in a rural bar. The Centre for Creativity at St James’ Cavalier has Ghana nights from time to time and it is also performed at various heritage events.
Look out also for music by Etnika, a traditional folk group reviving ethnic Maltese musical forms and instruments. Their music, using traditional bag pipes, horns and drums, was once part of the Islands' daily life, and used in a variety of social contexts - from weddings to funerals - and by town criers and street vendors. Etnika reinterpret this unique and forgotten musical heritage for a contemporary audience.
Cinemas, Theatres & Operas
Malta is among the first countries in Europe to have the latest releases, ranging from blockbusters to art house films. The Islands are well served with several multiplex cinemas.
You’ll find anhouse movies, re-releases and non-English language films. There other cinema at the Centre for Creativity, St James’ Cavalier, Valletta. Here, the programme is geared more towards art is also a winter season of art house movies organised by the University of Malta film club. Various foreign organisations, such as the Italian and French Cultural Institutes and the German-Maltese Circle, also have regular film seasons.
Cinema-going is a popular leisure activity. Not surprising given the Islands’ own interest in the film industry. With its backdrop of historic buildings and stunning land- and seascapes, the Maltese archipelago has long been used as a location for some major films: Midnight Express and Oscar-winners Gladiator and U-571 are among the most memorable. Malta has recently also hosted Hollywood blockbusters such as The Count of Monte Cristo and the epic Troy, as well as prestigious period dramas, including the BBC's Byron and Daniel Deronda.
The other attraction here for the film industry is the Mediterranean Film Studio facility with special tanks designed for the filming of underwater and natural horizon seascapes. For some fun, why not visit Popeye Village, the original film set of the 1980 Robbin Williams' movie? Today, it is a popular attraction and a water sports and activity centre.
Theatre is a lively and well-represented part of the local cultural scene. And the baroque 18th century theatre, The Manoel, in aptly named Old Theatre Street, Valletta, makes a wonderful venue for the performing arts.
Built in 1731, and one of the oldest working theatres in Europe, it has been fully restored to its earlier splendour. It is a wonderful setting in its own right. The theatre runs guided tours of the auditorium, back stage and the theatre museum.
The Manoel opened in 1732 to a season of French classics. Today, it offers a full calendar ranging from comedy to classics, in both English and Maltese, and by both local and international actors and performers. The Sala Isouard, an adjacent palazzo now part of the Theatre, also hosts events.
The Manoel, and other venues in Valletta, are the scene of several annual festivals: the Valletta Baroque Festival; the Arts Festival; and Opera Festival.
While there is no professional or repertory theatre on the Islands, dedicated amateur groups stage excellent performances. Highlights of the year include the open-air Shakespeare performed in the baroque gardens of San Anton Palace in July.
For some fun, and great kids’ entertainment, try the Christmas Pantomime at the Manoel or a musical, usually held in Sacra Infermeria of the Knights, now the Meditereanean Conference Centre.
Theatre performances are held in other venues, such as the Old University building in Valletta and the University of Malta at Tal-Qroqq.
The Islands have several venues for opera: the Manoel Theatre and Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta; as well as theatres in Victoria, Gozo. It may strike you as surprising that there are so many venues on the Islands, but in the past Malta had a dedicated opera building in Valletta. The opera building was destroyed in World War II. But the site where it once stood is to be developed into a national arts centre, more versatile for performing arts than its predecessor.
Casinos
Everyone has to have an evening's flutter once in a while. And there is no better time than on holiday. Malta has several excellent casinos. Choose from an elegant colonial-style villa, an ultra modern hotel complex, or a restored 17th century, harbour-side palace. All provide great entertainment whether you're new to the tables or have tried your luck before. And when it comes to dining out, you'll find the casinos offer a superb choice of cuisines from international fare to Mediterranean specialities at their excellent restaurants. As well as bars and open-air venues for a chat and a sociable drink or cocktail. |
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