Malta’s national orchestra yesterday launched its first CD under its own record label Orkestra Nazzjonali live during a press conference held at the orchestra’s premises in Valletta.

The CD features a recording of a live performance of music by Maltese composer Paolino Vassallo at the Manoel Theatre on 30 May 2006 under the baton of Mro Christopher Muscat. The concert was held on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

During the same conference, the orchestra announced that on 20 January it will team up with the string section of the Pesaro Symphonic Orchestra to perform at a grand concert under the direction of Paolo Ponziano Ciardi at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Five days later, the national orchestra will once again team up with the Italian orchestra on a repeat performance of the concert held in Malta at the prestigious Rossini Theatre in Pesaro. Mro Michale Laus, the national orchestra’s music director, will direct the concert.

The concert features Paolino Vassallo’s Fuga per grande orchestra and Brahms’s Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra with the participation of Carmine Lauri (violin) and Tim Hugh (cello), both leaders of their respective section with the London Symphony Orchestra. The second part will be dedicated to Tchaikovsky’s symphony no. 6 Pathetique.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech praised the orchestra for giving due recognition to Maltese composers through their concerts. Last year’s performance of works by Nicolò Isouard, Paolino Vassallo, Carlo Diacono and Carmelo Pace, said the minister, bear testimony to the orchestra’s zeal in commemorating our composers.

Minister Zammit Dimech remarked that the orchestra has become a point of reference in the country’s musical culture, not only for its concerts but also for its collaboration with foreign orchestras such as the Brno Philarmonic Orchestra, the North Czech Philarmonic and Milan’s Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra and Choir. He also mentioned the highly successful Bocelli concert in which the national orchestra ably accompanied the world famous tenor.

Chairman Lino Attard said next year the national orchestra will be celebrating its 10th anniversary and the publishing of recordings will serve as a build-up to this event. He said celebrations will culminate next year with a series of concerts.