Brian Schembri, the newly-appointed principal conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has lost no time since the announcement of his appointment to make it clear that he will be changing the musical priorities of the national orchestra.
“The choice of music that was played,” he said, was not satisfactory. “MTO must get back to being a symphonic orchestra. More equilibrium is needed.”
Mro Schembri graduated in piano and conducting at the Kiev and Moscow “Tchaikowsky” Conservatories. After working as assistant conductor with Michel Plasson and Emmanuel Krivine, he held the posts of Chief Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de France and the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, and has had an international career conducting major orchestras around the world.
Mro Schembri takes up his new post with immediate effect. He will be responsible for the artistic policy and content of the MPO, including the programming, choice of soloists and guest conductors and a commitment to conduct a number of performances per season.
Although Mro Schembri’s first words could have been felt as a criticism of the past direction of the MTO, both he and Parliamentary Secretary for Culture Jose Herrera were fulsome in their praise for his predecessor, Maestro Michael Laus, who led the MTO for 25 years. Dr Herrera said Mro Laus had regenerated the national orchestra and will soon be given a specific role to play in the development of the MPO.
The MPO’s role is that of promoting excellence both in Malta and abroad. It will be touring China either this year or next and playing in Germany at a three-week festival next year. In both countries, the MPO will be making Malta better known.
Another role that MPO is being given is to foster young musicians, with the Youth Orchestra acting as its nursery. The European Youth Orchestra was invited to inaugurate the Pjazza Teatru Rjal and a youth orchestra played on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of local councils.
The MPO consists of 56 players with 11 different nationalities. Its budget is €1.2 million a year, which it supplements through the sale of tickets for its performances and by sponsorships.
Mro Schembri confirmed that he will be giving due prominence to Maltese music, both contemporary and baroque, and Dr Herrera added that it is his ambition to set up an archive of Maltese music.
Finally, Dr Herrera insisted there should not be partisan feelings regarding the MPO which was, he said, a national asset and the artistes must remain free.