Successful Fado Night

The Embassy of Portugal in collaboration with Pinto Basto Ltd. organised a Fado night at the Chameleon Suite, Corinthia Place Hotel, Attard on the 01st of December 2009.

Fado which means destiny or fate, is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor.

 

The first part of the show consisted of an impeccable performance of Maria Ana Bobone. Maria Ana is a motive of legitimate pride for those who crusade for the innovation of ‘fado’ song, through the improvement of its quality.

The second part of the show consisted of a great performance by Antonio Pinto Basto who celebrated his 35 year of ‘marriage’ with Fado in 2007.

Without doubt, the concert reached its peak with a duet by the splendid Maria Ana Bobone and the charming Antonio Pinto Basto. The concert was under the production of the professional Miguel Capucho

The appreciative audience that literally packed the suite, had heartfelt praise for this show, which was surely a great success. The concert was followed by a reception.

This was another cultural event was supported by Banif Bank (Malta) plc and the Instituto Camoes – Portugal’s cultural institute

 

National Day of Portugal – 10th June 2009

 On the 10th of June , the Embassy of Portugal in Malta hosted a reception to celebrate the National Day of Portugal. Around 250 guests attended the reception. Also present were H. E. The President of the Republic of Malta, Dr.George Abela and Mrs.Abela, the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and Mrs. Gonzi, President Eméritus Dr. Fenech Adami, the Commander of the Armed Forces, members of the house of representatives, diplomats, members of the Portuguese community in Malta and other local personalities.

In their interventions, both the President and the Ambassador spoke about the excellent relations between the two countries mainly about the developments within the political, economical and cultural areas particularly the recent state visit to Portugal by President Eméritus Dr.Fenech Adami prior to his end of mission as President of the Republic of Malta.

 

Call For Applications

The Embassy of Portugal is seeking to recruit a Special Assistant to the Diplomatic Mission, Administrative Assistant and Driver / Chauffeur.  More information about the vacancies is listed in the documents hereunder.

Special Assistant to the Diplomatic Mission
Administrative Assistant
Driver / Chauffeur

 

Ambassador Ramalho Ortigão presents credentials

 

The new Ambassador of Portugal to Malta, H.E. António Ramalho Ortigão, presented his Letters of Credence to the President of Malta, H.E. Edward Fenech Adami, on the 27^th November, 2008. The ceremony took place in the Ambassador’s Room at the Palace in Valletta. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mrs Ramalho Ortigão and Counsellor Dr António Pinheiro Marques.

LInk to Ambassador Ramalho Ortigão's CV

 

President of Malta on state visit to Portugal

President of Malta Edward Fenech Adami has been on a two-day state visit to Portugal accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami. During his visit, President Fenech Adami held talks with Portuguese counterpart Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister José Sócrates, and the president of parliament Jaime José de Matos da Gama. He also visited Fatima. A 25-strong business delegation is also in Portugal seeking new business opportunities.

 

A Taste of Madeira

 

The Embassy of Portugal in Malta recently organised an event to promote the Portuguese islands of Madeira amongst local travel agents and tour operators. The event included tasting of Madeira wine and other delicacies, as well as a visual presentation of this Atlantic archipelago’s diverse tourism offer, particularly in terms of its eco-tourism, heritage and leisure attractions. For more information about the islands of Madeira, visit the official website located at www.madeiratourism.org.

 

The Two Faces of War

The Embassy of Portugal, in collaboration with St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, will be screening the documentary As Duas Faces da Guerra (The Two Faces of War), on Monday, 27^th October 2008 at 18.00 hrs. The screening of the documentary will be followed by a dialogue session with the participation, amongst others, of the film’s director, Diana Andringa. This event is being held in support of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

In 1963, the PAIGC – the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde – embarked upon a struggle for the liberation of these countries from Portuguese colonial rule. The PAIGC’s leader, Amílcar Cabral, had always made it clear that they were fighting colonialism and not the Portuguese people. And it was in Guinea-Bissau that the Army Movement that led to the Carnation Revolution in Portugal was born.

Ultimately, the conflict brought no hate, but friendship. The documentary, which was produced last year, attempts to find out how this could happen and projects the conflict as seen through the eyes of some of its direct protagonists, scattered throughout Guinea, Cape Verde and Portugal. In doing so it brings to the fore issues such as colonialism, reconciliation and intercultural dialogue.

Bookings can be made by contacting the St. James Cavalier booking office on tel. 21 223200 or via email at boxoffice@sjcav.org.

 

World renowned Portuguese singer for Manoel Theatre Concert

 

The Embassy of Portugal in Malta, in collaboration with the Manoel Theatre, is proud to announce a concert by world renowned Portuguese singer Teresa Salgueiro, who will be accompanied by the Lusitânia Ensemble. The concert, entitled “LA SERENA”, will take place on Tuesday 21^st October at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

Teresa Salgueiro is acknowledged as one of Portugal’s most accomplished contemporary singers. Between 1987 and 2007 she recorded more than twelve award winning CDs with the group Madredeus (released by EMI) which sold more than five million copies worldwide.

In 2006, Teresa Salgueiro released her first solo album ‘Obrigado’ (EMI edition), and in 2007 she embarked on the ‘La Serena’ project, accompanied by the Lusitânia Ensemble (Farol edition). Teresa has constantly toured within Europe, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the United States and China. Nowadays, she is a cultural ambassador of Portugal, offering a modern, yet traditional music that had no specific genre. The Lusitania Ensemble was formed by Jorge Varrecoso Gonçalves specifically to work with Teresa Salgueiro on her solo projects, foremost amongst which “LA SERENA”.

During “LA SERENA” Teresa Salgueiro will sing an eclectic range of classics rendered famous by artists such as Italian Lucio Dalla and Brazilians Caetano Veloso and Tom Jobim, as well as some of the most popular songs from the Portuguese fado tradition, originally sung by major artists such as Amália Rodrigues. 

Tickets for the concert, at € 20, € 15, € 10 and € 8, can be obtained from the Manoel Theatre booking office. Bookings can be made by phoning the booking office on 2124 6389 or by sending an email to bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt

Sponsors:

 

Ambassador ends mission in Malta

 

H.E. António Russo Dias has ended his mission as Portugal’s Ambassador to Malta. His term came to an end on the 4th September. Ambassador Russo Dias was Portugal’s first resident ambassador to Malta.

Ambassador Russo Dias’ term in office was underlined by significant developments in the political, economic and cultural relations between Malta and Portugal.

 

 

Tribute to Portuguese who came to Malta’s aid in Blockade

 

H.E. The President of Malta, Dr Edward Fenech Adami, yesterday unveiled a plaque commemorating the Portuguese Admiral Marquis de Nisa and the Portuguese sailors and marines who assisted the Maltese in their insurrection against the French in 1798. The plaque, an initiative of the Portuguese Embassy in Malta, was installed at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, overlooking the harbour area where much of this historic episode took place.

Present at the ceremony were the President of Malta and Mrs Fenech Adami, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, government ministers, members of the diplomatic community and other distinguished guests. The outgoing Ambassador of Portugal to Malta, H.E. António Russo Dias, took the opportunity to publicly bid farewell to the islands, thanking President Fenech Adami, the local authorities and the Maltese people for their “welcome and support”, which made his mission “exceptionally easy and fruitful”. H.E. António Russo Dias was Portugal’s first resident Ambassador to Malta.

During the ceremony, historian Prof. Henry Frendo delivered a lecture entitled “Making amends with History: A vindication of Maltese-Portuguese relations”.

Historical background - Admiral Marquis de Nisa comes to Malta’s assistance during blockade

 On 19 September 1798, two weeks after the popular revolt against the French, the Portuguese fleet in the Mediterranean came to the relief of Malta. It was under the command of Admiral Domingos Xavier de Lima Pinto Guedes (1765- 1802), 7^th Marquis de Nisa, who blockaded and laid siege to the French, and landed a contingent to help the Maltese patriots. The Portuguese admiral gave the Maltese 500 muskets while two of his officers came ashore to advise them on the best location for their trenches and posts facing Valletta and Cottonera.

 A Portuguese officer, Xavier Mattheus, was commended for his bravery in the field, while other Portuguese marines died fighting in the harbour area. The fleet sailed for home on the 13 December 1799, when two British regiments reached the island, but not before the Maltese National Congress had thanked the Marquis de Nisa officially for his support to Malta at a decisive moment in its history. The Admiral also received recognition for his actions from Lord Nelson, as well as the British and Portuguese monarchs.

 

Maltese Ambassador appointed to Portugal's Order of Merit

Malta’s Ambassador to Portugal, Salv Stellini has been appointed a Member of Portugal's Order of Merit by Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The award was in recognition of Mr Stellini's contribution, as Malta's first resident Ambassador in Lisbon, to the strong relations existing between the two countries. The appointment was made at a farewell call by the Ambassador on the President, prior to the termination of his tenure at the end of June. President Cavaco Silva said Maltese-Portuguese relations will be further strengthened later this year with a visit by President Edward Fenech Adami, whom he very much looked forward to welcoming in Lisbon.

 

 

Portugal-Malta relations at an all-time high

On the occasion of Portugal’s National Day, the Embassy of Portugal in Malta hosted a reception on the 10^th June. This was attended by the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi and Mrs Gonzi. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Tonio Borg and other cabinet ministers, President Emeriti Prof. Guido Demarco and Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano, Central Bank of Malta Governor Michael Bonello, AFM Commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, Members of Parliament, diplomats, members of the Portuguese community in Malta and local personalities.

In a brief address, the Ambassador of Portugal to Malta, H.E. António Russo Dias, referred to the forthcoming end of his mission in Malta. Ambassador Russo Dias highlighted the progress which has been achieved in relations between the two countries, in the political, economic and cultural spheres, particularly since Portugal and Malta upgraded the level of their diplomatic representations to that of resident ambassadors.

Prime Minister Gonzi also made reference to these developments, and emphasised the ease with which Portugal and Malta understood and supported each other at a political level, as well as the significant flow of Portuguese investment into Malta, represented by the presence of one of Portugal’s major banks, Banif Bank, in the local economy. He paid tribute to Ambassador Russo Dias for his role in bringing relations between the two countries to unprecedented levels.

 

Campolide and Ta’Xbiex embark on road to cooperation

The Mayor of Campolide, a district in the city of Lisbon, Dr Jorge Teixeira dos Santos, recently made a courtesy visit to the Mayor of the Maltese town of Ta’Xbiex, Mrs Antoinette Vassallo, at the local council’s offices.

During their meeting, Dr Santos and Mrs Vassallo discussed the possibility of the two localities entering into a cooperation agreement which would, amongst others, facilitate the exchange of visits between residents of Campolide and Ta’Xbiex.

Throughout his visit, Dr Santos was accompanied by the Campolide council treasurer, Mr Filipe Alexandre Botas.

Junta de Freguesia de Campolide          Ta’Xbiex Local Council

 

Portuguese and Maltese conservationists join forces

The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, known as SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves) is assisting Birdlife Malta in the implementation of the Yelkouan Shearwater Project, Malta’s largest conservation initiative.

The main aim of the project is to protect Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) at the largest breeding site, Rdum tal-Madonna, in the North of Malta. The project will also improve this protected site for wildlife and visitors.

The importance of the cooperation between these two conservation organisations stems from the fact that the Maltese Islands are home to approximately 10% of the world’s population of Yelkouan Shearwaters.

The European Union’s Life Nature Fund is providing 50% of the funding required for this project.

http://www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt/en/

http://www.spea.pt/