So often, professional musicians are required to play the same music over and over again. After all, that's what audiences want to hear, and there's a lot to be said for revisiting the pieces people love.
However, sometimes, musicians are also faced with the challenge to play a completely different type of music, perhaps in a style that has never been performed locally before - and that is exactly what is happening in the upcoming concert 'Tehillm - 20th Century Masterworks' at the Manoel Theatre, which is being produced by Modern Music Days in collaboration with Teatru Manoel and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), as part of the Valletta 2018 programme.
MPO cellist Akos Kertesz is one of the musicians currently working towards this concert, in which the orchestra will present four 20th century masterworks that are being performed in Malta for the very first time. They are 'Octandre' by Edgard Varèse, 'Chamber Concerto for 13 Instruments' by György Ligeti, 'Sinfonietta Op.1' by Benjamin Britten, and 'Tehillim' by Steve Reich. Furthermore, selected MPO musicians will perform these works send by side with musicians from the Brno Contemporary Orchestra (Czech Republic), under the direction of conductor Pavel Šnajdr. It promises to be a completely unique performance.
Akos is originally from Hungary, where he trained at the Liszt Academy before working for the Hungarian State Opera and then moving to Japan. "Working there was an eye-opening encounter with musicians who had completely different backgrounds and musical traditions," he explains. "Then, after returning from Japan, I decided to go back to school - this time in The Hague - and I spent another three years in the Royal Conservatory there. It was also very stimulating. I met excellent, dedicated musicians there and I learnt how to work more systematically, with attention to the slightest details."
From Holland, Akos moved to Malta six years ago. "Having experienced the rich traditions of Budapest and the very professional approach of the Dutch, I certainly had to make some adjustments when I started working in Malta," he smiles. "But the musical scene here is vibrant and the MPO is getting stronger. Music is very much alive in Malta, and we get to enjoy some truly wonderful highlights that are very rewarding on a personal level."
Among those highlights, Akos cites the opportunity of getting to work with a returning guest conductor - like Mro Šnajdr. "He is coming here with some of the musicians from his ensemble, while the MPO will contribute the rest of the players, and I will be among them. That's very exciting," he says.
Akos highlights the benefits of working with a conductor like Mro Šnajdr, who he has worked with before. "A precise, well prepared conductor can make the musicians' lives so much easier," he says. "When it comes to this kind of music - which we have never played before as a group - there is no space for the inflated egos and showmanship that can sell out so many symphony concert halls elsewhere.
"In this genre, the conductor returns to his original role: keeping the time, helping and guiding the musicians, serving the composer's ideas. Mro Šnajdr has all the right qualities for this and so much more. He has a very clear understanding of the score and a simple but captivating way of conveying it with his gestures. He does not make musical compromises but is, at the same time, very practical. He manages to realise the most complicated scores that seem impossible at first. Well, I definitely count on him for Ligeti which is fiendishly difficult! It had been a pleasure working with him in the past and, when I first heard about the planning of this concert, I was hoping to be part of it. I was gratified to hear he also wanted to work with me again."
None of the works in the programme have ever been performed in Malta before, but Akos believes it's important for the Maltese public to be exposed to 20th century repertoire and contemporary music. "These works are masterpieces and, in general, this repertoire should be played more," he says. "But actually, I do not think Malta is doing so badly in this respect. These pieces are not played very often anywhere and, even when they are, it is mostly for a niche audience. It still takes a lot of courage and devotion to undertake a project like this. In this sense, Malta is quite avant-garde which is certainly thanks to innovators like Ruben Zahra take on the mission to bring this repertoire to the Maltese audience."
As for the programme itself, Akos if very much looking forward to the audience's reaction to it. "A musician once said, 'I wish I could listen to the 5th of Beethoven for the first time again!'," he smiles. "This is kind of like that! Most of these pieces have shaped music history. To witness them live for the first time is a reward in itself. The same goes for me as a performer. I have never played any of these works, so, to be part of this now is a great thing. Also, both for audiences and performers there is the added element of challenge. It is a whole evening of only contemporary music so you had better come with a fresh brain!"
Admittedly, though, 'Tehillm - 20th Century Masterworks' is unlikely to be one of those concerts wherein the audience understands the music on first hearing them. "These pieces have very complex structures and, sometimes, present very unusual sounds. But that is OK. I doubt that the first listeners of Bach's "Musicalisches Opfer" were able to appreciate the work's intricate architecture or could follow all the modulations. Even if not perfectly understood, music can still affect the listener, touch something behind the conscious mind, bring up hidden feelings or provoke associations. And if it stirs up a real interest, after the concert the listener can do some research and find out much more. In any case, I am confident it is going to be a unique experience for both players and audiences," Akos adds.
'Tehillm - 20th Century Masterworks' will be held at Teatru Manoel on 9 June at 8.30pm. Tickets are available at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt. Modern Music Days is part of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme. Modern Music Days is organised by Teatru Manoel, the Malta Association for Contemporary Music and the Valletta 2018 Foundation.