Malta Philharmonic Orchestra 2017-2018 concert season launched

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and Malta Philharmonic Orchestra’s executive chairman Sigmund Mifsud launched the MPO’s 2017-2018 concert season.

“The National Orchestra has made great strides forward and it will continue to advance and reach new goals. This will be another exciting season for our musicians,” Bonnici said, during the launch of the orchestra’s concert season. 

The Orchestra will once again act as Malta’s cultural ambassador. Ten musicians from the National Orchestra will join 10 Russian counterparts in a concert, which will be held in Russia’s capital Moscow, to commemorate the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Malta Orchestra will also take part in a tour of four German cities, after which the MPO will continue its way to Austria to take part in the prestigious Musikverein.

Last year the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra had a standing ovation at this same event.

Bonnici said this international involvement was taking local talent worldwide. 

On his part, Mifsud said that the National Orchestra should also be a point of reference for young Maltese musicians who aspire to join.

He also remarked that these concerts do not only serve to showcase local musicians, but also Maltese music, helping to keep Malta’s musical identity alive.

The National Orchestra often commissions new works by Maltese composers itself: last June it premièred five pieces by Maltese composers for chamber orchestra and traditional instruments such as the żaqq and flejguta.