Thousands of Maltese and foreigners crammed the bastions and the Grand Harbour waterfront to watch a truly impressive show, broadcast worldwide, that captivated everyone.
Maybe it is because we are not used to seeing such events in our own country – but the display yesterday was of world-class standard. Events really got under way at 9pm, when two of our own operatic stars gave a performance at the MCC which was a complete sell-out.
Both Miriam Gauci and Joseph Calleja really lived up to their reputations with heartfelt “give-it-your-all” performances. It was hard to believe that the two stars had never shared a stage before yesterday’s classic performance.
The Knights of St John could never have imagined that the fortress built by them to keep invaders out of Malta could be used for what was in effect an enormous big-screen to display Ross Ashton’s brilliant graphic manipulations. The display showed images from our colourful past, our present and now our future in the European Union.
Just before midnight, speeches were made followed by the playing of the national anthem. The climax of the night was just around the corner and the anticipation was palpable. It was predicted that about 80,000 people would turn out. The actual figure is impossible to gauge, but everywhere you turned, there were masses of people waving Maltese and EU flags.
Revellers stopped their socialising to watch, spellbound, the light and laser display by German “architect of light” Gert Hof, which was accompanied by the moody ambient music by former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters.
Fireworks were let off and the whole scene – especially the natural beauty of Grand Harbour at night – was just too impressive for words.
Choruses of “fantastic” and “amazing” (xi gmiel) heard on the night probably summed everything up better than any fancy writing can. In short, it was a night to remember. Sometimes we undervalue our country and say we cannot organise things or do them properly. But last night was truly fantastic and a great way to showcase what we are capable of as a country.
Next time we sell ourselves a bit short, I suggest that we look back on the opening hour of the First of May and remember exactly what we are capable of. The weeks of preparation and years of expectation are now over.
We are members of the EU. We might be on honeymoon for a few weeks, but the reality is that we are part of a 500 million strong family now. The political battle is over, nervousness is now useless, but optimism for the future and the need to grasp opportunities is still there. It is time to shape our own future.