A night of moving Russian Folklore will fill the galleries and stalls of the dazzling Teatru tal-Opra Aurora, as the MPO perform The Firebird in Gozo.
The scene is set by Tchaikovsky's beloved Violin Concerto which will be followed by Stravinsky's Suite for orchestra from the ballet The Firebird. This is based on the thrilling story of Prince Ivan's search for a rare magical bird to help him free the imprisoned princesses.
Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan will lead the orchestra, joined by highly acclaimed violinist Bomsori Kim. The South Korean artist, having won a multitude of awards including the Tchaikovsky International Competition, is signed with major record labels including Warner Classics and Deutsche Gramophone. She has toured some of the world's most significant festivals and venues throughout her career, including Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow.
During a press conference discussing the upcoming concert, Minister for Gozo Hon. Clint Camilleri warmly greeted the event. "Concerts such as The Firebird in Gozo, particularly with the participation of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, continue to heighten the standards of Musical activity on this treasured island. Such events also strengthen another niche of tourism, which Gozo certainly needs. I guarantee that as Minister for Gozo, the efforts to maintain attention towards the Musical sector will continue, hence investing in our musicians' success locally and internationally."
MPO CEO Sigmund Mifsud affirms the satisfaction found in collaborating with the Ministry for Gozo, particularly in seeking further opportunities to perform on the island. "Gozo boasts two exceptional theatres of substantial performative potential. These are infrastructurally and logistically currently more viable than ones found in Malta, making future collaborative opportunities key. This will also aid in attracting a specific niche of tourism towards Gozo, as well as Malta ."
This MPO production in Gozo, following on the Mastering the Voice Closing Concert with José Cura, will continue to add to the calibre of events held by Malta's foremost musical institution. Evidently, the revived energy has been a continuation of the momentum built up as the orchestra went through an extensive digital transformation, reaping over 17m unique followers in 12 months. Keeping the hybrid model alive, the MPO pursues both online events - with a continuation of Orchestra Resounds, its audio-visual productions including the most recent Theme from Jurassic Park - and live concerts.
Taking place on 20 November, The Firebird in Gozo is presented in collaboration with the Ministry of Gozo and with the support of Bank of Valletta. An exclusive shuttle at €2 with return trip will run from the Mġarr Ferry Terminal following the arrival of the 6:15PM Gozo Channel. Pre-booking is required at [email protected]. The event is in accordance with all current health protocols, with valid vaccination certificate required at entry. Tickets can be bought from showshappening.com.