International Touring

The MPO has toured extensively during the past five years, performing in Europe and beyond. In these tours, the orchestra performed in prestigious venues, alongside acclaimed soloists. 

“Excelling locally, and internationally.
11 countries, 3 continents and countless collaborations over 17 years.

China Concert Tour

In December 2014, the orchestra embarked on a nine-day tour of China, giving performances in major cities such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, Liuzhou and Shanghai.

Under the direction of Croatian conductor Miran Vaupotić, the orchestra performed music by Brahms, Saint-Saëns and Strauss as well as works by Maltese composer Christopher Muscat and Chinese composer Li Huan Zhi. For this highly successful tour, the MPO was also joined by Maltese pianist Charlene Farrugia, mezzo soprano Clare Ghigo and accordionist Franko Božac.

Expo 2015

The Expo 2015 hosted by the city of Milan was a grand display, showcasing achievements of participating nations, with the MPO featuring as part of the Malta Pavillion.

The orchestra performed music by local composers including the Malta Suite by Charles Camilleri, while providing a platform for contemporary music with Karl Fiorini’s Symphony No. 2, specifically commissioned for this occasion.

European Cultural Days 2015

As part of the European Cultural Days 2015 in Frankfurt, the Central Bank of Malta, under the auspices of the European Central Bank, presented a varied programme of events reflecting Malta`s rich cultural heritage.

The MPO featured in the grand opening at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Germany – headlined by the world-renowned Maltese tenor, Joseph Calleja – with an evening of vocal and instrumental numbers.

The MPO in Rome

In December 2016, Maltese artists were responsible for the crib hosted yearly at St. Peter’s Square during the Christmas period.

To commemorate the occasion, a celebratory concert was held in the Papal Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura. Presenting Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Mass in D major (Op. 123), the Missa Solemnis, the performance featured soprano Jacquelyn Wagner, alto Eva Vogel; tenor Daniel Kirch and bass Gerd Grochowski together with the Coro dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. 

EU2017MT Official Opening Ceremony

The concert, staged at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts featuring Maltese acclaimed tenor Joseph Calleja, reflected the political and cultural vision of the Maltese EU Presidency in 2017.

The varied programme featured an eclectic mix of works by European composers, together with works by three eminent Maltese composers; Charles Camilleri’s Knights of Malta Ballet Suite, Joseph Vella’s Il-Kebbies tal-Fanali and Carlo Diacono’s Intermezzo from Alpino.

Eroica

In 2017, the MPO performed in Austria at the Konzerthaus in Klagenfurt and at the Musikverein in Vienna, one of Europe’s most distinguished concert halls.

The concert, part of the Reunion, the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union Cultural Programme, featured the orchestra performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 under the baton of Brian Schembri. The repertoire also presented Nicolo` Isouard’s Overture from Joconde and Brahms’ Double Concerto with soloists Jiman Wee and Kirill Rodin.

MPO Eurotour

In 2018, the MPO embarked on a tour visiting Germany and Austria, performing in prestigious venues in Munich, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Berlin and Vienna.                   

As Malta’s cultural ambassador, the MPO presented Kewn, a work by contemporary Maltese composer Albert Garzia especially commissioned for the occasion featuring American violist David Aaron Carpenter.

Under the direction of Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan, the orchestra also performed Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony with pianists Ingolf Wunder and Nareh Arghamanyan joining for Shor’s Travel Notebook.

MPO Valletta 2018 International Tour

2018 marked the 50th anniversary of the MPO as Valletta was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture.

To mark the occasion, the MPO performed in five renowned concert halls in the USA and Russia, namely Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kimmel Centre for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, the Music Centre at Strathmore in North Bethesda, the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

The tour’s performances under the baton of Sergey Smbatyan featured Joseph Vella’s Rebbieħa and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.

MPO Moscow Tour

Under the patronage of H.E. The President of the Republic Malta, the orchestra’s international tour for the 19/20 Concert Season presented four events in prestigious concert venues around Russia’s capital city, Moscow.

The opening concert featured Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja at the recently inaugurated Zaryadye Hall. The subsequent performances, under the baton of MPO Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan, explored a wide repertoire whilst presenting Maltese music to foreign audiences with works by Camilleri, Garcia, Muscat and Isouard.

MPO Dubai Tour

In 2021, the MPO returned to concert touring, following the orchestra’s digital transformation. The tour formed part of the part of the InClassica International Music Festival as the orchestra visited Dubai for first time.

The concerts at the spectacular Coca-Cola Arena featured Maltese and international composers, including Beethoven, Dvořák and Tchaikovsky, Camilleri, Garcia and Vella Gregory. The orchestra performed with world-acclaimed artists including Joseph Calleja Mischa Maisky, Severin von Eckardstein and Gary Hoffman, led by MPO Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan and Dmitry Yablonsky.

MPO Italy Tour 2024

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra travelled to Italy to perform two concerts at the prestigious Auditorium Parco della Musica ‘Ennio Morricone’ in Rome and the Auditorium Manzoni in Bologna. As Malta’s foremost musical institution, the orchestra continues to be a proud exponent of classical and Maltese repertoire both at home and abroad.

During this tour, the orchestra – under the direction of its Resident Conductor Michael Laus performed Brahms’ monumental Double Concerto for violin and cello, with the participation of soloists Carmine Lauri (violin) and Erica Piccotti (cello) and Tchaikovsky’s evergreen Nutcracker Suite. The orchestra brought to stage the works of three contemporary Maltese composers: The Forbidden by Reuben Zahra, Mesogeios by Christopher Muscat (featuring Francesco Sultana playing traditional Maltese instruments) and Crux by Josef Bugeja.