National Day reception at Russian embassy

Ambassador Boris Marchuk and his wife Ludmila were on mission in America for several years I believe and both speak English beautifully. It is rumoured that Mrs Marchuk is of aristocratic lineage. I must ask her one of these days. She is regal but most unassuming and soft spoken.

There is always an air of relaxation at this yearly Russian reception. Surely this is because it is held in early summer when the heat is still bearable. It is also in the open air with plenty of music, singing and an ambience of bonhomie.

I am happy to say that there were several members of the Cabinet present, a change of faces is a good thing.  There were girls in colourful national costume serving Russian delicacies such as blinis with salmon, brown bread with herring and pasties with fried coleslaw.

In his speech His Excellency said that at the historic Bush-Gorbachev summit at Marsaxlokk in 1989 when he was present, the cold war was officially pronounced dead.  Yes, that happened in Malta.

All sorts of things come to mind when someone mentions Russia. Shostakovich’s music – or some of it for a start. He composed under the oppressive Communist regime of the day and wrote pieces for his children. I love his Jazz Suites but especially his Second Waltz. Sugary yes, but what’s wrong with sugar? I like it in my music too. Had I been a serious music lover I would prefer his symphonies.

Tchaikovsky, too, comes to mind at the mention of Russia. His 1812 Overture is one of the most adored creations in all classical music. How sad that he had so tortured a life not only because he suffered from depression but also because he felt guilty over his homosexuality which was socially unacceptable at the time. Yet he has left such wonderful ballet music and so much more, music which continues to be loved and performed to this day.

To me Russia also means The Unknown Communist of which we were given a picture at school, a silhouette of a man for whose conversion we were asked to pray.  Perhaps our prayers – hundreds of school children praying for the Unknown Communist – did work. Who knows?  Then there is the film Doctor Zhivago – pure romance and lovely music;  Leo Tolstoy’s works and also his Confession which I read recently and which is the autobiographical story of his struggle with a mid-life existential crisis of melancholia. It describes his search for answers to the profound questions: "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?", without answers to which life, for him, had become "impossible". After he had achieved tremendous financial success and social status, he still felt his life to be without meaning.  His search led him to “confess” that the answer to his trouble lay in the deep orthodox religious convictions of ordinary citizens.

This is certainly a little book worth reading. Yes, although I have never visited this great country, Russia with its great civilisation and culture means so many things to each of us.

This was another enjoyable garden party.

4th July celebration at Ta’Qali

What a relief to find plenty of parking in the vicinity of the American embassy. It makes a change from all our daily struggles in search of parking space. In order to celebrate the 4 July HE the Ambassador to the US hosted an outdoor reception.  As was the case of the British High Commission’s reception to celebrate the Queen’s birthday this reception too was largely sponsored in this case by several US companies. Catermax provided some delicious America–type food and the barmen were kept busy pouring drinks for the many guests.

The Ambassador’s speech was largely about immigration which, of course, is the topic of the day. Her Excellency focused on her chosen subject and pointed out the positive aspects of immigration. She also spoke about American music for that day the 200th anniversary of American music was being celebrated. “No one person invented Ragtime, the Blues, Jazz, Country, Soul, Rock… in truth, every one helped invent them since each style has roots in the fertile soil of the homeland of every immigrant who came to America,”  Her Excellency pointed out. She continued by telling her audience that not every new form of music or new wave of immigrant was initially accepted by society. Jazz was once called the devil’s music. (The Irish were heavily discriminated against). “Yes, now, jazz is a celebrated musical genre and St Patrick’s Day is virtually a national holiday! We’ve learned that society grows stronger when it embraces its immigrants and weaves them into its own fabric,” the ambassador said.

Ambassador Gina K. Abercrombie-Winstanley commented that America continues to be a beacon for immigrants from across the globe. “Many come to our universities, drawn to their academic excellence and accessibility and stay to make major contributions as researchers and entrepreneurs. Some are on the other end of society, working for minimum wages hoping to give their children a better chance than they had. Others are running away from persecution, war and famine – looking for safety, looking for refuge.”

In many ways it was a moving speech. This educated lady, looking splendid in a red spotted dress, was delivering a clear message. America, the most powerful nation on earth, is made up of immigrants.  Let us not forget the following words on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” America was under-populated. They needed people to fill their vast, largely empty continent. Malta, on the other hand, is a tiny over-populated island already. We really don’t need more people from Africa or anywhere else in large numbers, to come and share with us our stretched resources. I felt like raising my hand to tell her this.

But we do have a duty to look after those who are here. More boatfuls are expected even as I write. For how much longer is this going to last?

I heard an interview with the Greek prime minister this week. Greece has the same problem.  It is the main gateway into the European Union for migrants from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The majority hope to reach one of the more prosperous states in Western Europe but many become caught up in this debt-wracked country. What is the solution to this huge problem?

Concert at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Courtyard of Palazzo Parisio in Merchants Street, where Napoleon is said to have stayed during his brief sojourn here, was appropriately chosen as the venue for a concert coinciding with the end of Ireland’s Presidency of The Council of the EU 2013.

A white canopy was installed mainly over the grand piano. There was hardly an empty chair that evening as all those invited seem to have turned up to what was a very good concert with an interesting programme.

The clever and gifted Dr Anne Marie Camilleri Podestà who is not only an excellent musician but now also an anaestetist played pieces written by the Irish composer Turlough O’Carolan and also Gesti by Charles Camilleri. In fact, Dr Camilleri Podestà has a CD of music played by herself and to which I enjoy listening from time to time.

The soprano Gabrielle Sargant has a natural voice. I was sitting next to her mother and in front of her teacher Andriana Yordanova. I have heard her sing several times, mostly thanks to the Irish amabassador who seems to have discovered her. She also has stage presence and is very self assured. Someone should give her a scholarship to go and train abroad. She sang very well.

I have never heard the Celtic harp before and that was the revelation of the evening. Michelle Paris, who lives abroad and is interested in many things, as she told me afterwards, played a traditional Irish air and the Londonderry Air or Danny Boy, beautifully. As the Irish ambassador pointed out in his speech Michelle recently won a Gold Medal in the All British finals of the Celtic Harp competition. I hope we shall be able to enjoy her playing once more some day soon.

The youngest musicians that evening must have been Maria-Elena Farrugia and Elaine Mercieca who played duets and were absolutely syncronised and played with energy and musicality. I loved the Marche Militaire No 1 because I know it so well. I recall playing it with one of my sisters at school – and since we rarely practiced our piano teacher would bang our heads together from time to time, grumbling that we should know the notes by now. I still play it occasionally with a friend who is a superior pianist but who puts up with my many mistakes and long nails. These two young girls should go far with their piano.

 The evening was compèred by Rosette Spiteri Cachia who made a very good job of it.

As the Minister said, during drinks upstairs, these events cannot take place without sponsorship for by the time you bring in the piano from somewhere else, hire a canopy, organise the programme etc. you easily get a bill running to a few thousand euros. But HSBC came to the rescue and hopefully they will do so again for Dr Vella promised there would be more concerts of this nature.

I must say, the Irish Presidency made a very big impact here in Malta as so many events were organized round it. I am sure the hard working ambassador and Mrs Hennessy as well as their small team must, even if secretly, be sighing with some relief that they can have a relatively quiet summer.