Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) was involved in the production Episode 6: Island Under Siege, which focusses on narratives that took place in 1940 when Axis powers attacked Malta. Heritage Malta says that the support of UCHU was “fundamental” in its contribution of the underwater sequences which will make the episode “more intriguing”.

“National Geographic’s productions are in line with UCHU’s outreach campaign at informing the general public about the importance of the underwater cultural heritage. By teaming up with National Geographic, Heritage Malta has facilitated the sharing of Malta’s cultural heritage with an international audience,” said Heritage Malta’s Acting CEO, Noel Zammit.

Heritage Malta established UCHU to create a department that was specifically responsible to identify a number of underwater sites so they could be studied, protected and made accessible to all in a controlled and managed way, the press statement says.

Heritage Malta is also working on establishing underwater archaeological parks off the shore of the Maltese Islands, which would carry many benefits, according to HM, such as enhancing the protection of the archipelago’s “unparallelled and precious underwater” cultural resources. Additionally, such sites can further enhance the tourism package the island nation can offer to divers, as Malta has embarked on its way to becoming a market leader in the field of deep water wreck diving, the press statement stresses.

The post NatGeo featuring Malta’s underwater heritage today first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“As part of our strategy to further promote culture and arts, Teatru Manoel has put a lot of effort into putting baroque at the foreground of the island’s cultural activity with the Valletta International Baroque Festival and performances throughout the year, not only in Valletta but also around the island,” said Owen Bonnici,  Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government.

These instruments include an 1888 Broadwood piano, which has undergone restoration funded by the Friends of the Manoel. The straight strung piano showcases the different registers of the instrument with clarity. The Friends of the Manoel were represented by Carmen Gatt Baldacchino with two of Mr Debono’s heirs: Marie Cabourdin and Paul Debono in attendance.

Two Viola da Gambas were also acquired. This is a bowed string instrument which is played similarly to a cello and made its first appearance in Europe in the late 15th century, before becoming one of the most widely-used instruments in the Renaissance and Baroque period, says the press release. 

Furthermore, the baroque cello, which is typically larger than a standard cello characterised by a lower sound was also collected, along with two clavichords, a rectangular stringed keyboard instrument largely used in the Late Middle Ages, all the way through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical Eras.

The Broadwood piano will be the first of the instruments to feature in a Teatru Manoel Concert on Wednesday 13th November at 20:00, with a Mozart Concert by Ensemble DeNote. The concert is supported by the Friends of the Manoel and held in memory of the George Debono.

The post Teatru Manoel acquires baroque instruments first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The project cost €250,000 and included boundary landscaping works. In addition, it represented a successful completion of a project that was taken on by the foundation and the tenth restoration project of a coastal fortification by the National Trust of Malta, the press release sent to BM says. 

“The foundation’s support of this project does not stop here with the opening of the newly restored tower. The Foundation will remain committed to helping with the upkeep and promotion of this important area over the coming years so that more locals and tourists get to discover this gem in the south of Malta,” said Malta Airport Foundation Chairman Fredrick Mifsud Bonnici.

The foundation is independently administered and its mission is to support sustainable projects and initiatives that preserve local heritage and the environment for future generations, whilst enhancing the tourism product of the Maltese islands, the press release says. 

Moreover, Executive President of the National Trust of Malta Alex Torpiano expressed his gratitude to the Foundation for its support while at the same time the Minister for Tourism Konrad Mizzi participated in the compliments for the effort put in order to improve the cultural heritage of Malta. 

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