Carnevale Grandmaster's ball

Mask Up For Malta’s Carnevale —The Grandmaster’s Ball in Valletta: The Most Colourful Spectacle of the Season

Written by Albert Fenech
Reading Time: 3 min

When Carnival celebrations come around each year, cities throughout the world, including Valletta, explode in a riot of colour and celebration—one final act of decadence and indulgence before Lent—that takes place between 9 February to Mardi Gras on 13 February. Aside from the parades and music, costumes and cameraderie, nothing symbolizes the season quite like a masked ball. Malta’s Carnevale-The Grandmaster’s Ball, will be held on 10 February, and is guaranteed to be an opulent, elegant and indulgent affair that celebrates of the rich culture and and heritage of Malta.

Tickets are still available so grab a mask, historical or period costume, and book a seat at Carnevale for a night you won’t soon forget.

Carnevale—The Grandmaster’s Ball

Guests are invited to embark on a journey of culture, tradition and opulence set against the backdrop of a venue renowned for its grandeur and architectural splendour.

This year’s edition of the Grandmaster’s Ball, Carnevale, will take place on Saturday 10 February at the resplendent  sixteenth century Sacra Infermeria and La Valette Hall, nowadays known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC) in the heart of Valletta, across the magnificent Grand Harbour. The MCC is a Baroque building which began life as a hospital during the times of the Knights and during World War I became known as “the Hospital of the Mediterranean”, providing care and recovery for many hundreds of military personnel, from the British military services around the Mediterranean.

Grandmaster Lascaris (one of the most renowned) initiated The Carnivale, a Grandmaster’s Ball for the titled and well-to-do and it was a night filled with laughter, music, theatre, dance and food. This year, attendees can expect more of the same, with live entertainment and performances from local artists, a seated 4-course dinner complimented by superior wine, and an after dinner ball that is sure to be a night to remember.

Attendees must be 18 years or older, and the dress code is a historical or periodic costume and mask or alternatively black tie and mask.

The 16th Century MCC with its remarkable La Valette Hall is the resplendent venue for this year’s Grandmaster’s Ball on 10 February

Whet Your Appetite: The Evening’s Menu

The event will be a five-star display that commences with  Prosecco and canapés including chicken liver parfait, sweetcorn mousse, porcini popcorn, piperade and pomegranate Bruschetta, quail egg and parsnip mayo, and cured seabass terrine

Then, take your seat for a divine four-course dinner:

Starter

Goat’s cheese bavarois, sundried tomato crumble, tomato water, white onion marmalade, basil oil

Intermediate

Sage and squash risotto with blood orange reduction, roasted almond, amaretti crumble

Main:

Angus beef fillet, with potato and short rib cake, winter vegetables, truffle jus

Dessert

Ricotta and candied peel Mousse, chiacchiere, strawberry, pistachio

*Dietary requirements and requests can be made via: matthew@mcc.com.mt quoting your order number, name and surname, and the request.

Malta Carnival

Carnival in Malta is a time of colourful cavorting and over indulgence just before entering 40 days lent (Photo by Agustinagava – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130044655)

Brief Carnival History

Carnival was introduced into the Maltese Islands by the Knights of St John during the early Middle Ages – in line with the event throughout the Christian world. Needless to say as it is the time for wide and colourful cavorting and over indulgence just before entering 40 days of fasting, solemnity and sobriety.  The celebratory days were (and still are) filled with colourful parades, including giant floats (sometimes satirical), music, singing, and open air dancing in squares. But the pinnacle of it all for high society was the masked ball.

Read more about Malta’s Carnival celebrations here.

Get Tickets

Tickets are 150 euros per person and there is a 12 euro per ticket

Phone +356 2559 5750  or +356 2124 3840

E-Mail matthew@mcc.com.mt

 www.thegrandmastersball.mt/

Follow MCC on Instagram

FYI:  Carnival in Malta is not restricted to the well-to-do who can afford to attend this splendid dinner celebration. Most Carnival events are free and open to the public who can witness  spectacle of colour and events, between 9 —13 February.

Malta Carnival

Floats and parades are free and accessible during carnival week (photo by Agustinagava – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130044662)

***

BeSeeingYou: In Malta
Good To Know: The dress code is historical or periodic costume and mask, or alternatively black tie  attire and mask.
WOW! Factor: The 16th-century Mediterranean Conference Centre, one of Valletta’s most remarkable landmarks
Tip: A valid ticket must be produced to get into an event

Author bio: Albert Fenech
salina46af@gmail.com

 

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Albert Fenech
Born in 1946, Albert Fenech’s family took up UK residence in 1954 where he spent his boyhood and youth before temporarily returning to Malta between 1957 and 1959 and then coming back to Malta permanently in 1965. He spent eight years as a full-time journalist with “The Times of Malta” before taking up a career in HR Management and Administration with a leading construction company building the Benghazi Hospital in Libya, later with Malta Insurance Brokers, Malta’s leading insurance Broker and finally STMicroelectronics Malta, employing 3,000 employees and Malta’s leading industrial manufacturer. Throughout he actively pursued freelance journalism and broadcasting for various media outlets covering social issues, current affairs, sports and travel. He was Publications Editor for the Malta Football Association for 25 years and has written for a number of publications both in Malta and overseas, as well as publishing two e-books.

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