Later this month, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), conducted by Christopher Muscat, will be performing three concerts at different Maltese localities as part of a newly established “community outreach programme”. The concerts will be held on 16 June 2010 at the St Francis of Assisi Church, Qawra; on 17 June at the Church of Our Lady of Victories, Senglea; and on 18 June at St Helena Parish Church, Birkirkara. 

The MPO performs regularly at Malta’s leading concert venues, including the Manoel Theatre and the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The aim behind these community concerts is for the orchestra to move out of its traditional venues and meet its audiences at the heart of our localities, with concerts in the evocative surroundings of some of Malta’s most striking town and village churches.  

The chosen repertoire is a varied one which includes a number of short and well-known works by composers such as Bach, Mozart and Mendelessohn, alongside compositions by Maltese composers Joseph Vella and Paolino Vassallo. This makes these concerts ideal for families, young people and newcomers to classical music who will have the opportunity to experience the beauty of a live orchestral performance in a context which may be more familiar to them than the concert hall.

Conductor Christopher Muscat’s expertise in the field of sacred music promises an exciting evening of sacred orchestral music. Besides his experience as conductor, Muscat is also an accomplished composer with his music being regularly performed in Europe.

He was the first-prize winner of international composition contests in the UK and Spain and has also been invited on a number of occasions to adjudicate international instrumental, composition and choral competitions as well as to give masterclasses and seminars in composition.

The performances start at 7.30pm and entry will be free of charge.