Lino Attard has loved music since childhood and in fact trained as a baritone under Antoinette Miggiani and furthered his studies with Prof. Blagovesta Karnobatlova Dobreva, at the time Dean of the Vocal Faculty at the Sofia Conservatoire for a number of years. He describes himself as a workaholic, indeed he is also the Choir Master of Cantores Sancti Juliani to whom he dedicated himself after quitting singing 12 years ago and runs The Clock Studio business which he set up in 1979. He has been chairman of the National Orchestra for three years. Interview by Maria Giuliana Fenech.
For how long have you been chairman of the National Orchestra and what changes have you made?
I have been chairman of the National Orchestra since mid-October 2004. Since my appointment I have worked very hard to make the orchestra better known and to enhance its prestige. Keeping in mind Malta’s size, we should consider ourselves very lucky to have a National Orchestra, especially an orchestra which, on more than one occasion, Minister Zammit Dimech has referred to as “a jewel in his ministry’s crown”.
A very overt example of a change I have made since my appointment is in the orchestra premises – the rehearsal rooms are now soundproofed and the chairs are especially adjustable. Moreover, the rehearsal rooms provide a studio effect, thus enabling the merest discrepancy in sound to be heard and improved upon.
I enjoy noticing the very good atmosphere among the musicians whom we encourage to further their studies and to participate in international competitions. In fact, at the moment, the flute player Fiorella Camilleri is overseas participating in such a competition.
What is the history of the National Orchestra?
The orchestra owes its humble beginnings in 1968, to Joseph Sammut who gathered musicians formerly belonging to the Admiral’s Band of the British Forces stationed in Malta and organised them to play together as the C-in-C’s orchestra. The orchestra was subsequently disbanded and the musicians were absorbed by the Manoel Theatre, hence the Manoel Theatre Orchestra. This was followed by the setting up of the National Orchestra of Malta as a separate entity in September 1997, giving rise to interesting developments.
In 1997 a system of rotating conductors saw the involvement of Joseph Vella, Joe Sammut and John Galea following which Joseph Vella was appointed resident conductor. On his appointment as chairman, a post he held until August 2003, Michael Laus roped in John Galea as resident conductor in 1999 following which the system of guest conductors was re-introduced for seasons 2000-2003. Michael Laus was appointed Music Director in 2003, a post he still occupies to date.
The Orkestra Nazzjonali has no doubt been influenced by its position as the national orchestra of an island in the middle of the Mediterranean. The orchestra has performed the demanding repertoires by Italian, English, German, French, Austrian and Russian composers among others, which are so much imbedded in local music tastes. For this reason the orchestra has often performed as a large symphony orchestra thanks to the excellent cooperation it enjoys with important orchestras in Europe. Since January 2005 we have seen the orchestra performing Grand Concerts on a number of important occasions with the participation of musicians from the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, England, Austria, Russia, and Ukraine.
We are now considering changing the name of the orchestra to incorporate its new philharmonic status. Notwithstanding that the orchestra became an independent entity 10 years ago people still refer to us as the Manoel Theatre Orchestra and for obvious reasons we have to move further away from being known as such.
The orchestra has often performed beyond our shores. Are there plans for any more international tours?
The orchestra’s first foray overseas was during the season 2001-2002 when the National Orchestra toured for the first time. In Belgium the orchestra performed at the City Hall in Brussels under the direction of Michael Laus, while in Sicily the National Orchestra, in collaboration with the Manoel Theatre and Operalaboratorio (Palermo) participated in a five-performance production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Palermo’s Teatro Orione. Then, in June 2003 the National Orchestra participated in the production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide at Rome’s Teatro Argentina and also performed a concert in the Villa Adriana remains in Tivoli.
In August 2006, the EU’s Leonardo Mobility Project enabled the National Orchestra to team up with the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra. A number of our string musicians joined one of the world’s top orchestras in workshops and two concerts held at the Spilberk 2006 Festival in Brno, Czech Republic, under the direction of Petr Altrichter and Leos Svarovsky respectively. This experience was wonderful and the highlight of the tour was definitely when the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra told us that we brought discipline to their orchestra!
After that, last January, the National Orchestra teamed up with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Pesaro in two concerts at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta in Malta, which were subsequently followed by performances at the Teatro Gioacchino Rossini in Pesaro, Italy under the direction of Paolo Ponziano Ciardi and Michael Laus respectively.
Working with other orchestras not only increases the standard of the Malta National Orchestra but also fills the musicians with enthusiasm while refining their artistic skills.
What experience has the orchestra had with foreign musicians?
Apart from the aforementioned international tours, foreign conductors have often led the orchestra. Among the many distinguished conductors and soloists who have performed with the National Orchestra one can mention Charles Olivieri-Munroe, the Italians Carlo Bernini and Paolo Ponziano Ciardi; Andrea Bocelli, Jose’ Carreras as well as singers from the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the likes of Fabio Armiliato, Daniela Dessi, Scott Hendrix, Gaston Rivero and Kate Aldrich among others, Barcelona born David Giménez Carreras as well as the New York born Eugene Kohn, When the orchestra works with foreign artists, it attracts a bigger audience.
The Maltese people themselves are often surprised when they hear how grand the National Orchestra is. A typical audience usually numbers some 1,000 people, however when we perform with famous artists we often pull a crowd of seven to nine thousand people. The orchestra always appreciates this level of recognition for all the work they would have done.
Last year we also performed with artists from the Metropolitan Opera House who were surprised with the high standards of the National Orchestra, even though we did not have so much time to rehearse. This performance was simulcast in New York.
What are your prospects for the 2007-2008 seasons and do you have plans for more international tours?
The orchestra’s calendar of events is truly amazing. We have bookings as far ahead as August 2008, while season 2008-2009 is already being formulated. However this is a double-sided blade and we have to make an effort to leave free dates in case of corporate events.
The latest engagement was Macbeth at the Astra Theatre. Indeed a few weeks ago we performed La Forza Del Destino at the Aurora Theatre. Forthcoming events include the Malta International Choir Competition and Festival, the BOV Opera Festival and the much-awaited Orchestra Goes Pop. In addition we are going to perform with the Royal Choral Society of London and the pianist Richard Clayderman. As this year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary, every performance is doubly special and proof of how much the National Orchestra has improved. I should mention that most of the organisation of the Orchestra Goes Pop concert is entrusted to our trumpet player Sigmund Mifsud. Its beginnings are very humble with an audience of just 400 people, but now we draw a crowd of 2,500! It is a great opportunity for our musicians to expand and engage in diversification of their musical appetite.
Moreover we hope to perform Rossini’s Cenerentola at the Palazzo Dei Congressi in Lugano next March. We formed this collaboration after we performed Verdi’s Falstaff so successfully last year at the Opera Festival held at the Manoel Theatre in which the orchestra excelled. In August we plan to perform in Sargosa, Spain at the Expo. Planning ahead allows us to project our ideas better to corporate sponsors.
What changes has Budget 2008 brought to the National Orchestra?
We are pleased that the vision set by my board from the outset has led to the government’s undertaking so that the National Orchestra grows and become a Philharmonic Orchestra and hence it has increased the National Orchestra budget by Lm130,000 (EUR303,000) to Lm420,000 (EUR978,000). Although funds still fall short of covering the full salary bill apart from the day-to-day running expenses, we are confident that with constant careful planning leading to the ever-increasing concerts and revenue derived there from, together with the assistance of corporate sponsors, we will manage to meet our deadlines.
The orchestra shall rope in a number of full time musicians to augment its various sections. This upgrade will facilitate the orchestra to perform different repertoires and as from 2008, following a process of call for applications, auditions and interviews as per established procedures. The philharmonic musician organigram shall include three flutes, three oboes, three clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, one tuba, one timpani, two percussion, a harp, 14 1st violins, 12 2nd violins, 10 viola, eight cellos and six d-basses.
The National Youth Orchestra also falls under your umbrella as orchestra chairman. What’s in the pipeline for this branch of the orchestra?
The National Orchestra organised its Youth Orchestra in order to attract a number of potentially good young musicians and give them the necessary formation as professional orchestra musicians. Fortunately, although the National Youth Orchestra is currently having some teething problems, mostly to do with problems of space and time, a number of young musicians have already been roped in to play with the National Orchestra in our grand concert series from time to time. The youth orchestra shall be revamped as it provides an avenue for young players to have the opportunity to extend themselves musically, to explore music that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to realise, rehearse and perform, and to experience aspects of music making that might otherwise be closed to them. Participating in concerts with the National Orchestra of Malta in one of them.
What are the other ventures of the National Orchestra?
The National Orchestra also participates in educational programmes. We have organised several outreach programmes with various schools, most notably with De La Salle College. When the children visit our rehearsal rooms they are encouraged to touch and play the instruments. Music education programmes bring the orchestra and its music to the widest possible audience through interactive music making, performing for children of different ages and involving them in creative talks and workshops.
The National Orchestra also organises community projects from time to time. We feel that this is all part of establishing a closer rapport between the National Orchestra and the community.
How does the Orchestra promote Malta’s national identity?
The orchestra is a predominant exponent of Maltese composers and one of its ambitions is to promote Maltese composers overseas. The recent launch of the Orkestra Nazzjonali Live Label is a step in this direction. The first record was dedicated to Paolino Vassallo’s varied works and has already proved to be a success in Europe and the US.
Our international tours further enhance Malta’s profile around the world. In addition, the orchestra plays an important role in cultural tourism. We always have foreigners in the audience who clearly look forward to our performances and incorporate them into their holidays.
Furthermore, the orchestra performs at state events such as the Epiphany Concert and the Independence Day Concert. The National Orchestra is frequently invited by the President of the Republic of Malta to perform in state concerts in honour of the various distinguished visiting Heads of State.