Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Arrives at InClassica for First Dubai Concert

InClassica 2021 is the biggest and most ambitious music festival to ever take place in the Middle East, welcoming a staggering 37 world-renowned soloists, 7 celebrated orchestras and 12 leading conductors to Dubai for a 30-day celebration of sublime musicianship, world-class performance and international collaboration. InClassica is pleased to present the biggest names in classical music today, featuring performers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, for an unrivalled programme of phenomenal concerts taking place at the Dubai Opera and Coca-Cola Arena. The festival features a range of music from distinguished historical European composers, as well as works from the event’s Composer-in-Residence, Alexey Shor. 

Last night at InClassica

Concerto Extravaganza
Coca-Cola Arena

Severin von Eckardstein is one of the leading German pianists of his generation. Playing with analytical sense, he does not only reproduce the music he chooses for his concerts. He gives his interpretations a unique transcendence. At the InClassica International Music Festival, von Eckardstein played Ludwig van Beethovens's Piano Concerto No. 5, a tableau of troubled and changing times in the scale of a symphony. Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto is among the most important works of the genre. Gary Hoffman, a renowned master of musical detail, played the solo part alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra led by Dmitry Yablonsky. The concerto opened with ‘Xamm’, a dark and powerful symphonic piece written by the contemporary Maltese composer Albert Garzia.

Severin von Eckardstein (piano)
 - “This unusual city and this hall have their own special atmosphere, and such events as InClassica do not happen to you every day. Of course, we need to get used to the climate, to the acoustics, to new musicians. But everything turned out wonderfully, we had a complete mutual understanding with the conductor, this concert gave me great pleasure. Yes, of course, I was excited, because this is an immortal masterpiece of Beethoven, whose music everyone knows, and it is a great responsibility to perform it in front of the audience, but I think everything turned out well.”

Gary Hoffman (cello)
 - Can you tell us your thoughts about the performance? “There are always things that one feels one can improve, but if I go with my feelings it was very positive. This is partly due to the feeling onstage during the performance, and not just from me — it’s partly from me, but also the conductor, the orchestra and the energy from the audience. We all feel and are aware of the fact that the concerts happening now are like a gift, and that maybe we took them for granted in the past. I never took them for granted because it’s so important to me to play, but it’s true when we’re deprived of this thing that’s so central to our life — whether it’s from the playing or listening standpoint — that when we have the opportunity to experience it again, it makes it even more special somehow.”
 - It was your first time performing at the Coca-Cola Arena. What did you think of the venue? “It is an unusual space, it’s not a typical space and wasn’t built for that, and I think nonetheless they found a way to arrange it with the back curtain, the stage and the shell. I think they did it well...I honestly didn't feel that it hampered anything at all. I think part of that is also the human experience because I thought that the energy was positive...I think when good things happen it’s reaffirming and this felt like one of those times tonight for me.”  
 - How was your experience with the orchestra this evening? “I like the orchestra very much. I didn't know what to expect as today was quite different as you saw, there was one person per stand, more space and that’s not necessarily so simple in terms of hearing and playing, but they did well and the conductor did great. Honestly, there are times in life when you just have to appreciate the experience. You can always pick on details, and that’s fine because even at my stage I do want to progress and improve — that keeps me going. But I think there are times when you have to look back and say, ‘I really enjoyed that experience, it was special’, and this was one of those and that’s what I’m going to keep from this.”
 - Did everything go well from an organisational perspective? “Absolutely. I wouldn’t know what to suggest that should be done differently, honestly. It was done perfectly, really. Believe me, I recognise that, because I’ve worked with lots of people...and you can tell the difference when things are done the right way with a certain understanding. That’s why I thanked everyone for doing this, because I’ve never done that side to it, though I’ve been around it all my life andI know how hard that part is — I probably don’t know half the things, but I know a lot of things...and I felt like there was a lot of attention payed, certainly from my standpoint, to make it the best experience possible. Obviously I appreciate that, and all those things do enter, I think, into what happens in a concert.”

Dmitry Yablonsky
 - What was your experience of the concert? “Every concert is an experience. It’s like a lifetime. You think it’s only one and a half hours long but it feels like an entire life. I just met Severin for the first time here. The Beethoven which he played is God’s gift to music. The Dvorak cello concerto then is one of the works I most like accompanying because I played it myself many times, and here I was accompanying a person whom I’ve admired since my childhood. We're almost the same age but Gary Hoffman was one of my idols so I was very happy that he could make it and it was a very, very special experience.”
 - How was the collaboration with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra? “We had a few rehearsals in Malta. During the concert we worked together and they really pulled themselves together well. It was like a different orchestra from the rehearsal. I’m very happy. I hope I’ll have a chance to work with them again and not only rehearsing but to do more concerts in Malta. I’ve really fallen in love with the country and I wish I can go again not just to work but to have a bit of a vacation for a few days as well.” 
 - The MPO is still a relatively young orchestra. What do you think of their development over the past few years since you last performed with them? “They’re getting better and better. As all orchestras it needs activity, it needs recordings, it needs to be active and feel that special feeling of performance. You can’t just sit and play concerts, you need a goal, a dream, an ambition, and I think the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is doing many things right, even with this festival and with the work of Sergey Smbatyan who is a close friend of mine and doing wonderful things with them, so I think the orchestra is on the right track.”
 - Did you find you had enough rehearsal time to connect well with all the musicians and soloists for tonight? “People always complain about rehearsal time, because you never have enough rehearsal time really, no matter how much you have. You always have a headache before the concert itself but that’s partly why we like it so much, and why this is such an exciting profession. You’re full of adrenaline for every performance, and it’s always exciting to see what you can do because your brain is working 200 miles an hour during the performance. The musicians were very excited tonight and it makes you pleased to see the energy they give you and you give them. It’s the energy from eye-to-eye that really matters, when you look into your face and you look at them and feel the energy between the two of you. From where I was it seemed like the audience really loved it so we did do something right I think!” 

Quotes From Those in Attendance: 

“We were really spoiled this evening I think. The soloists were both amazing, the orchestra was very good, and the music was excellent. Really beautiful stuff.” — audience member

“I really enjoyed myself, it was a fantastic evening. Beethoven and Dvořák were played wonderfully, and there was a piece at the beginning which I had never heard before but it was just amazing, I really loved it.” — audience member

“It was brilliant to see the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra live and hear music from Maltese composers. I’ve lived in Dubai for a while now but I’m Maltese originally, and it’s always nice to get a bit of a taste from home. I’m very happy to see them perform here, and they were excellent, it was wonderful”  — audience member 

Tonight at InClassica*

Operatic Gala: From Malta With Love 
Coca-Cola Arena

Internationally acclaimed for his vocal brilliance, elegant style, persuasive acting and impeccable taste, Joseph Calleja has become one of Malta’s most important musical ambassadors. For this spectacular gala concert, the renowned Maltese tenor and famed Metropolitan Opera star will perform some of the most hauntingly beautiful arias in the French and Italian repertoire, including Ah! lève-toi, soleil! from Charles Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, La fleur que tu m'avais jetée from Bizet's Carmen and Verdi’s Quando le sere al placido from Luisa Miller. A versatile and diverse performer, Calleja will also perform a work from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, an operatic musical containing elements of jazz, classical and Latin American music, as well as the hugely famous You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel. In addition to the appearance of Joseph Calleja, this performance will also feature Charles Camilleri’s Overture and Celebration from The Knights of Malta Ballet Suite, in a further celebration of the unique contributions to classical music by Maltese artists.

 - Joseph Calleja (tenor)

 - Sergey Smbatyan

 - Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

*Full details (including quotes from performers and attendees) will be available tomorrow. For any enquiries regarding tonight’s performance, please contact us.

Organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture and SAMIT Event Group, the 2021 Edition of the InClassica International Music Festival is currently underway, with daily concerts taking place until the 26th of September. For more information or to book tickets, please visit the official website at inclassica.com.