The Minister for Culture, Lands, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, launched a new season of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), which includes more than fifty concerts of international level.
“More than 50 concerts will be staged in various countries around the world, with a varied repertoire that combines classical music with contemporary works. This initiative shows the MPO’s commitment to offer a wonderful and high-quality cultural experience,” stated Minister Owen Bonnici.
The MPO’s Chief Executive, Vanessa Mangion, said: “This program we have prepared for this season is very exciting and includes internationally renowned soloists and musical directors. The Orchestra has already traveled several times, performed in prestigious halls, and in the coming season will also tour England, performing in the cities of London, Norwich, and Guildford. The Youth Orchestra, this time, will also take part in an international collaboration with a prestigious music school from Vienna.”
The MPO Chairperson, Prof. Odette Vassallo, said: “We are looking forward enthusiastically to new opportunities. We will be presenting a varied program that not only offers high-level music but also brings us closer to the public and creates space for collaborations. We want the Orchestra to remain a symbol of excellence that inspires both established musicians and the younger generation who aspire to follow in their footsteps.”
For this season, the program will offer a varied musical experience that includes the special Shostakovich 50th Anniversary Concert on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the famous composer’s death, as well as a majestic repertoire featuring works by Beethoven, Mahler, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov. The season will also include the Foundation Day Concert, bringing together on the same stage the MPO and the Youth Orchestra, and the ongoing series of Chamber Concerts with musicians from both orchestras.
The MPO will also present world premieres, including a composition by Marco Rubini, and will host several Maltese and foreign soloists such as violinist Diana Adamyan, pianist Freddy Kempf, and Music Director Luigi Piovano. At the same time, the orchestra will go on tour in England with concerts in London, Norwich, and Guildford, while the Youth Orchestra will collaborate with the Vienna Johann Sebastian Bach Music School. Among the educational initiatives, the MPO Kids project will continue with a series of school visits and, for the first time, special auditions will be held for children and young people aspiring to advance as musicians, offering them a unique opportunity to gain experience directly with the MPO.