So we make a national issue out of a foreign play and totally ignore on a national level the bi-centenary of a superb Maltese composer, Francesco Azopardi (5 May 1748 – 6 February 1809).

The Greek poet Constantine Petrou Cavafy wrote: “When the Greeks want to boast they’ll say ‘It’s men like these our nation breeds’.” But such a belief does not apply to the Maltese.

Let me quote now one of the character in my play Is-Sur Mastru, Bella, il-professur u progetti ohra: “U sa fl-ahhar pajjizna seta’ jilhaq il-missjoni li tradizzjonalment ghaliha kien imsejjah – pajjiz tal-mejtin.”

And this does not apply to Francesco Azopardi.

Joseph Vella Bondin

STA VENERA