A new and interesting series of events begins on Tuesday at 6.30pm at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta: the ‘Magic Box’, which will take place regularly every month for the rest of 2013.

The Institute recently received its new director, Dr Salvatore Schermi, and he is keen to promote new and interesting cultural activities. This particular programme is titled ‘Magic Box’, or should I say ‘La Scatola Magica, and it looks to be particularly enticing.

The series is being promoted and introduced by the Italian Government Lettore in Malta, Dr Anna Porcheddu, who kindly allowed me to peruse the programme for the rest of the year and answered a few questions.

The events will take place in the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta on the second Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm. The purpose of the programme is to re-engage the Maltese with the Italian culture and its language, and to do this a programme of interesting, informal presentations and interactive talks will take place. Each will be presented by a guest speaker with topics from Art & Music to Food & Wine to Artisan Crafts.

Without revealing too many of Dr Porcheddu’s ‘Magic Box’ surprises, it can be said that there will be presentations from many old friends and some new ones.

With topics such as ‘Italian Opera’ (with arias!), ‘Baroque Architectural Influences in Malta’, ‘Rome and The Eastern Catholic Churches’, ‘The History of Pizza and Pizza Today’ and many more, the series is bound to spark interest in all things Italian.

Each instalment will be presented by a renowned expert in their respective field.

I ask Dr Porcheddu if there would be samples available, with reference to the pizza presentation and a wine presentation later in the series. “You never know,” she says with a knowing smile.  So these two dates have gone straight into my diary, and many more will follow. Indeed many will be very interested in making the second Tuesday of the month a permanent date in their diaries.

Dr Porcheddu will provide more details of the programme at the first event this coming Tuesday, 12 March, at 6.30pm. And she is starting off with a very interesting talk and discussion from an old friend of Institute and Italian community at large.

Professor Giuseppe Brincat, a man who needs little introduction, has kindly agreed to present the first evening which will be entitled ‘L’italiano e le alterlingue’.

Did you know that Il Politecnico di Milano has approved the adoption of English as the medium for teaching science courses from the coming academic year? This should provide plenty of food for thought.  Should it be embraced as a reality or rejected on principle? How far do we go to protect the Italian language?

Professor Brincat will introduce the topic, give background to the decision and lead an interactive talk. I know we are in for a very interesting evening and the debate will be lively. Dr Porcheddu tells me there will be a glass of wine to follow so the discussion will continue with gusto.

It certainly appears to be a very worthwhile programme of events with an interesting and balanced series of topics.  There will be plenty to interest everyone and I’m sure I will see many of you there.

Dr Schermi and Dr Porcheddu will be delighted to welcome you to the first event, so come along and help start the ball rolling this Tuesday at 6.30pm.

More about the programme of events will be announced on Tuesday and will be on the Institute’s website, www.iicvalletta.esteri.it, and in the monthly programme of events.