The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is a classical music ensemble based in Valletta, Malta. The orchestra was founded in 1968 as the Manoel Theatre Orchestra, and it was later renamed the National Orchestra of Malta in 1997. In 2008, the orchestra was rebranded as the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is made up of over 70 musicians, and it is led by its principal conductor, Sergey Smbatyan. The orchestra's members come from all over the world, including Malta, Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Over the years, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The orchestra has also collaborated with some of the world's most renowned conductors and soloists, including Maxim Vengerov, Julian Rachlin, and Gidon Kremer. One of the highlights of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra's history was its performance at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2015. The orchestra performed a specially commissioned piece by Maltese composer Alexey Shor, which was conducted by Maxim Vengerov. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has also been recognized for its excellence in music. In 2014, the orchestra was awarded the Premio Abbiati, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the Italian music industry. The award was given to the orchestra for its performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, which was conducted by Brian Schembri. In addition to its performances, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is also committed to music education and outreach. The orchestra runs a number of educational programs, including the Young Musicians' Programme, which provides training and performance opportunities for young musicians in Malta. Overall, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is a world-class ensemble that has established itself as one of the leading orchestras in the Mediterranean region. With its commitment to excellence in music and education, the orchestra is sure to continue to make a significant contribution to the world of classical music for many years to come.

More....