The Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will begin their 21st concert season next year with one ‘timely’ change.
Instead of the August-to-July European orchestra schedule format of the previous seasons, the new season will commence in January and end in December.
Gerard Salonga joins current resident conductor Naohisa Furusawa as the new MPO resident conductor, and will usher in the new year with the MPO in true Viennese style.
The MPO will continue to play its role to elevate the arts scene with presentations of masterpieces from the great centuries, including Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades opera and Mozart’s arias.
For the first time, the MPO will present an all-female compositions concert, which coincides with International Women’s Day in March.
It will be helmed by award-winning Australian-British conductor Jessica Cottis, who returns to conduct the MPO after leading Ola Bola – Movie with Live Music in 2017.
Also in March, the MPO presents concerts themed Beatbox Symphony in a collaboration with Tom Thum, an award-winning beatboxer.
Making a return is Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy in April, after its successful presentations in 2012 and 2014.
MPO will be paying tribute to another Hollywood film composer, the late James Horner, in May, as well as present a special ode to the entire Star Wars series in December, in conjunction with the final instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
In September, the MPO will bring blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark to the hall.
Meanwhile, classical luminaries making a comeback on the DFP podium next year include Mark Wigglesworth, Roberto Abbado, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Olari Elts, Jac van Steen, Arnie Roth, and Hans Graf, as well as violinists Akiko Suwanai and Tianwa Yang.
Making their debut are cellist Joshua Roman, pianist Llyr Williams, clarinetist Annelien van Wauwe, and violinists Ryu Goto and Grace Clifford.
MPO Youth brand ambassador Tengku Irfan will also return along with local soprano Ang Mei Foong, baritone Mak Chi Hoe and magician Chase Lew.
For local music lovers, the Rock Tri-O scheduled in November will feature local rock artistes Datuk Hattan, Hazama, and Azlan Typewriter while singer Misha Omar (backed by her band) will dazzle in a solo one-night-only concert in August.
Tickets for the new season will be on sale beginning tomorrow. For more, visit www.mpo.com.my.
