A Evening of Magic with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

By Anthony Hart, 11 March 2014

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Reviewed at Teatru Manoel, Valletta on 7 March 2014

Weber, Der Freischütz: Overture

Gounod, Faust: Ballet Suite

Bottesini, Double Bass Concerto no. 2 in B minor

Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture, Op.21

Vella, Symphonic Variations on a Theme by Chopin op 131 for piano and orchestra

Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

Joseph Vella, Conductor

Gjorgji Cincievski, Double Bass

Natasha Chircop, Piano

Leonine masterpieces from the Malta Philharmonic

Mark Valencia, 16th March

The pairing of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with the Violin Concerto of Brahms felt conspicuously like a calling card from an orchestra that sees itself as a contender for wider recognition, on this showing with good reason.

***11

The Maltese embrace Austro-German Romanticism in Valletta

Alexander Hall, 26th January

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, with their Dutch-Maltese conductor Lawrence Renes and the British soprano Emma Bell, embrace the cause of Wagner and Bruckner in the heart of the Mediterranean.

***11

A Hero's Life: Malta Philharmonic performs Rachmaninov and Strauss

Dominic Lowe, 27th January

As Valletta celebrates its title as 2018 European Capital of Culture, the Malta Philharmonic gave an enthusiastic national premiere of Strauss' Ein Heldenleben.

****1

Enthusiasm and vitality brings the Malta PO season to a climax

Anthony Hart, 29th May

Schembri and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra brings vitality, enthusiasm and maturity to the final concert of the season.

****1

Valletta International Baroque Festival: Goldbergs for string trio

Anthony Hart, 18th January

The Valletta International Baroque Festival presented the world première of a new arrangement of Bach's Goldberg Variations, for a string trio – of violin, viola and double bass.

****1

Saariaho’s Notes on Light receives its Berlin premiere

Elena Luporini, 29th April

Sakari Oramo and Annsi Karttunen bring Northern lights and folklore to the Philharmonie, closing on a touch of Czech optimism with Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony.

***11

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Anthony Hart

Anthony Hart, born in the UK, now lives in Malta. He was presented papers for Società Italiana di Musicologia and the International Musicological Society. He a Licentiate of the London College of Music. He has had papers published in Early Music, Studi Musicali and Fonti Musicali Italiane.