On Friday a traditional Maltese crib (presepju) left Malta for Vatican City, where it will be exhibited in St. Peter’s Square.
The crib is the work of Gozitan artist Manwel Grech and was chosen after the Cultural Directorate, in collaboration with Heritage Malta published a call last November for the design and construction of an artistic crib.
The crib structure depicts typical cultural factors and specific characteristics of the Maltese landscape, including architecture, flora and fauna, as well as the traditional figures of the crib.
It was packed into two containers and the crib will be on display from the first week of December till the 8th of January, and then will be brought back to Malta for eventual exhibition in a public space during subsequent Christmas periods.
The Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government gave thanks to the Office of the Principal Permanent Secretary and the Archbishop for supporting this project, which also includes a concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra on 17 December in the Papal Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome.
The orchestra will be accompanied by four famous soloists, the Soprano Jacquelyn Wagner, Alto Eva Vogel, the Tenor Daniel Kirch and Bass Gerd Grochowski, as well as Italian choir, the Coro dell ‘Accademia di Santa Cecilia. Entrance to the concert is free.
Photographs: DOI Jeremy Wonnacott